Downtown Pedestrian Paradise

In her 1964 signature tune, Petula Clark anthemized a certain city section (“Everything’s great when you’re … dowwwntowwwn!”), seeing not noise and pollution but opportunity, rhythm, and life.

Thankfully, Baton Rouge has its share of motivated residents propelled by the same sentiment. The Downtown Development District’s mid-year development update has shed light on new and upcoming additions to the neighborhood, including free public wi-fi, a Matherne’s grocery store, scores of residential spaces, and even a men’s apparel shop.

For those worried that Baton Rouge is planning a concrete-and-steel, overcrowded future choked with traffic snafus, fret not. In the midst of this sweeping crop of new business and development, ample room has been assigned to eco-friendly, pedestrian spaces.

One project detailed in the mid-year report will afford riverfront access from the corner of Florida Street and River Road. The new access point will be linked to the Louisiana Art & Science Museum (located at 100 River Road South) by a multi-use path, open to everyone from pedestrians to cyclists. On the east side of LASM, an additional plaza designed by Suzanne Turner Associates will be set among a grove of leafy, shade-giving trees and will connect to both the riverfront access path to the north and Galvez Plaza to the east.

The city is also planning crosswalk improvements along River Road at North Boulevard, Convention Street, and Florida Street. Construction began in July 2014 with a prospective completion date of late fall 2014.

Further good news for pedestrians comes in the form of the Downtown Greenway. This verdant section will provide a welcome respite to the city environs, while serving a more practical purpose: as a pedestrian and bicycle corridor that weaves together inner-city residential neighborhoods with Baton Rouge’s downtown parks, businesses, and cultural attractions using the existing interstate infrastructure, public right-of-ways, and BREC Parks.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Greening America’s Capitals program assisted Baton Rouge with the design and schematics of the greenway, with plans drawn up by Spackman, Mossop & Michaels along with Ken Tipton & Associates. City officials expect the new corridor to boost ongoing redevelopment at the center of Baton Rouge. Preliminary funding totals over $3 million, and the Downtown Development District is currently collaborating with BREC to fashion the greenway, which includes trailheads and associated facilities, bike racks, accessible ramps, and parking lots. The Downtown Greenway is due to be completed this fall as well.