Best Parks in Baton Rouge

Best Parks in Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge has many outstanding parks. Many boast highly sought-after amenities and features, including botanical gardens, water parks, dog parks, golf courses, and even a virtual reality park for gamers. In fact, there is something for just about everybody at Louisiana's parks. Here are some top contenders for the best parks in Baton Rouge.

Perkins Road Community Park

Perkins Road Community Park Amenities

  • Playground
  • Fishing pond
  • Walking trails
  • Tennis courts
  • Skate park
  • Velodrome
  • Rock climbing
  • BMX Raceway

Perkins Road Community Park is a unique destination built with the extreme sports lover in mind. In addition to more traditional park amenities, such as a playground, fishing pond, walking trails, and tennis courts, Perkins Road Community Park also boasts a skate park, a velodrome, a rock climbing tower, and a BMX Raceway.

The 30,000-square-foot concrete skate park is open every day of the week, and both bikes and skateboards are welcome. The BMX track offers open riding times every day but Mondays when it's closed for maintenance. The exception is the first Monday of the month when the BMX track is open from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for mountain bikes only. Perkins Road Community Park is also home to the Team Automotive Group Sportsplex, which contains the largest basketball facility in Baton Rouge and the largest volleyball facility in Louisiana. This 52-acre park is located at 7122 Perkins Road.

Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center

Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center Amenities

  • Live animal exhibits
  • Varied habitats
  • Hundreds of bird species

At the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center, visitors can learn about this region's wildlife, plants, and ecology. This 103-acre facility contains a 9,500-square-foot building with live animal exhibits as well as other displays. Visitors can also explore the park's various habitats, including a cypress-tupelo swamp and hardwood forests, by walking along a mile-long gravel path and boardwalk that winds through the center.

The park, located at 10503 N. Oak Hills Parkway, is also a great place for birders. Sightings of hundreds of different bird species—some residents, others migratory—have been reported at the park. It is also home to an assortment of animal species, including turtles, snakes, raccoons, rabbits, armadillos, foxes, coyotes, deer, and otters.

This park is open Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays and several holidays. Admission is $3 for ages 18 to 64 years, $2 for ages 3 to 17 years, and $2.50 for ages 65 and older and college students. Children two years and younger are free. Annual passes are also available.

Forest Community Park

Forest Community Park Amenities

  • Walking trails
  • Ball fields
  • Recreation center
  • Playground
  • Lake
  • Splash pad
  • Tennis center with pro shop
  • Dog park

Forest Community Park is a 115-acre facility that includes walking trails, ball fields, a recreation center, and a community playground. It also has a splash pad for interactive water play open from April to October. The park features a recently renovated tennis center with a pro shop and 11 lighted courts. It also has a lake, where fishing is allowed, but only from the banks. No motorized boats are allowed in Forest Community Park.

Canine lovers will be delighted to know this park is also home to the second Raising Cane's Dog Park in the parish. This 1.2-acre puppy paradise has a section for large dogs and another for smaller ones, plus a water station and benches. The dog park is closed on Tuesdays and Fridays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for maintenance.

Forest Community Park, located at 13900 South Harrell's Ferry Road in the southeastern part of East Baton Rouge Parish, is open from sunrise to sunset.

City-Brooks Community Park

City-Brooks Community Park Amenities

  • Labyrinth
  • Art gallery
  • Splash pad
  • Lake
  • Dog park
  • Golf course
  • Playing fields
  • Swimming pool
  • Recreation center

City-Brooks Community Park has an interesting mix of amenities for visitors to enjoy. This 155-acre park has a labyrinth where visitors can meditate or relax peacefully. It also has an art gallery, a splash pad for interactive water play that is open from April to October, and a 50-acre lake where visitors can go fishing. Anglers must have a license, and fishing is only allowed from the banks. City-Brooks Community Park also contains Raising Cane's Dog Park, open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset.

Sports lovers can visit the City-Brooks Golf Course. Built in 1926, this 40-acre, nine-hole course is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This park is also home to the Capital One Tennis Center, which has lighted courts and pro shops. Other park amenities include playing fields, a swimming pool, and a recreation center. City-Brooks Community Park is located at 1515 Dalrymple Drive.

Independence Community Park

Independence Community Park Amenities

  • Playground
  • Outdoor fitness station
  • Playing fields
  • Theater
  • Walking trails
  • Botanical gardens
  • Tennis center with pro shop
  • Event center
  • Cafe
  • Water park

Independence Community Park, located at 7500 Independence Boulevard, is among Baton Rouge's most visited parks. That's not surprising, considering this 96-acre park has a wide variety of facilities, including a playground, outdoor fitness stations, playing fields, a theater, and 1.8 miles of walking trails. It's also the site of one of Baton Rouge's adult leisure centers. Another feature is the park's free botanical gardens, which are open every day from 7 a.m. to sundown. Independence Community Park also has a tennis center with a pro shop and lighted courts, an event center, and a cafe.

This popular park is also home to Liberty Lagoon, a water park with water slides, a lazy river, a swimming pool, and an area for beach volleyball. The general entry fee for the water park is $12. Children one year of age and younger are free. Season passes are also available.

North Sherwood Forest Community Park

North Sherwood Forest Community Park Amenities

  • Fitness center
  • Spray pad
  • Lake
  • Outdoor and indoor track
  • Playground
  • Outdoor fitness station
  • Playing field
  • Virtual Park

Located on the old Federal Sharp Station Depot, which was used during World War II, North Sherwood Park is a work in progress, but one that already has a lot to offer the public. The park is currently 133 acres, but it will continue to grow as the federal government, which owns part of the property, releases land to the park for its use. North Sherwood Forest Community Park has a fitness center, a spray pad for interactive water play, and a three-acre lake. Bank fishing is allowed, but motorized boats are not permitted on the lake. Anglers need to have a valid Louisiana fishing permit.

North Sherwood Forest Community Park also has an outdoor walking track and an indoor, air-conditioned track, a playground, an outdoor fitness station, and a playing field. This park also has an innovative, state-of-the-art Virtual Park, a facility for exergaming, which combines exercise and video games. North Sherwood Forest Community Park is located at 3140 N. Sherwood Forest Drive in the northern part of East Baton Rouge Parish. It's open every day from sunrise to sunset.

Life in Baton Rouge Is Better with Parks

Living next to one of these parks can add value to houses, condos, and townhomes. Pet owners can take their canine companions to dog parks, and just about everybody can find great options to have fun themselves. If you're looking for water recreation or things to do outdoors, whether your ideal relaxation involves concrete jungles or chirping birdsong, Baton Rouge has a park for you.

If you're interested in moving to this amazing city, contact a real estate agent with Brittney Pino & Associates at 225-444-5664 to discover your dream home in Baton Rouge today.

Post a Comment