2006 Highlights

  • In 2006 the Foundation envisions attracting financial support for many of the amenities that are contained in the master plans that being realized through the Imagine Your Parks strategic plan.
  • A new project that the Foundation is coordinating is Convention Street Park. This is the site of the old post office annex that Congressman Richard Baker had donated to BREC; he also obtained a HUD grant of $300,000.00 to cover demolition of the building and park improvements.
  • The Recreation Disaster Relief Fund Committee approved a grant to the Baker City Park playground project to pay for covers to be installed on the equipment. The Committee authorized spending up to $6,006.77. BREC, the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, the Rotary Club of Baker, the Rosie’s For All Kids Foundation, Kids Around the World, and the City of Baker are partnering to build a playground for children in the area, including those at Renaissance Village, to have a place to play. A $1,000.00 donation was approved for the BREC toy drive from the Recreation Disaster Relief Fund.
  • Funding was obtained from the Louisiana Family Recovery Corps (approved a grant of $50,575.00 to provide comprehensive day camp for up to 100 high risk youth dislocated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita living in the North Baton Rouge area. These children live in the Renaissance Village and the Airport Village trailer parks) and the Hurricane Katrina Displaced Residents Fund, Baton Rouge Area Foundation (approved a grant for $50,000.00 for adult recreation programming for evacuees, primarily senior citizens). 
  • The Baton Rouge Area Foundation and the Philip and Cecile Barbier Fund of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation provided $2,500.00 for the banquet honoring the participants in the Midnight Basketball program.
  • Funding is under development for the following projects: the children’s playground in City Park; the dog park at City Park; tennis center at City Park; the dog park at Burbank; Zoo Master Plan; enhanced splash pad at Greenwood Park; BREC’s Visual and Performing Arts Academy; labyrinth at City Park; and a walking track behind the BREC Administration Building.
  • A key segment of the National Recreation and Parks Association Mid Winter meeting in Washington was the visit to Capitol Hill. Meetings were scheduled with each member of the congressional delegation. Commissioners Carroll Breeden and Audrey Nabors-Jackson as well as staff attended.
  • The Foundation coordinated efforts between the congressional delegation, BREC staff and the policy staff of the National Recreation and Parks Association relative to the Land and Water Conservation Fund state assistance program.
  • During the regular session of the Louisiana Legislature, BREC and the BREC Foundation were successful in having funds restored in the capital outlay bill. Senator Sharon Weston Broome led the effort to have $1,000,000 added to Anna T. Jordan Site and Facility Improvements while Rep. William Daniel spearheaded having $3,000,000 put into place for the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center Education Building/Conference Center, Planning and Construction.