BREC Begins 2023 Summer Camp Registration
BREC opens online summer camp registration for East Baton Rouge Parish residents beginning Saturday, March 4 at 9 a.m.
NEWS
News List
Prescribed Burn Taking Place at Howell Community Park
BREC will be completing a prescribed burn at Howell Community Park tentatively the week of Jan 15, 2023, starting Tuesday, Jan 17, 2023
BREC Wins Prestigious 2022 National Gold Medal Award
The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), announced this morning at its national conference in Phoenix that for the third time in its history, BREC has won the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. Musco Lighting LLC has been a proud sponsor of the Gold Medal Awards program for more than 15 years.
BREC Releases Official Statement in Support of Programs and Events for All Residents
In recognition of June as Pride Month, the Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC) will host Baddies Who Brunch, a Drag Show event, on Saturday, June 25 at Independence Event Center. This ticketed event will offer brunch and high energy performances that will involve plenty of audience participation.
BREC Announces New Zoo Director
BREC is proud to announce that after a five-month national search, Jim Fleshman has been named the fourth Zoo Director in BREC’s history. Fleshman has worked alongside Phil Frost for the past three years, playing an integral role in the development of the Zoo’s master plan, strategic plan and business plan which is guiding the largest construction project in BREC’s history to reimagine the 51-year-old facility.
BREC Receives Unmodified Audit for 2020 Financial Statements
BREC’s external auditor, Postlethwaite & Netterville, has submitted an unmodified opinion, the cleanest opinion an agency can receive, for BREC’s 2020 financial statements to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor (LLA) as required by state law. The financial statements, which have not yet been reviewed by the LLA and were delayed this year due to COVID-related issues, show that BREC continues to remain in good financial health.
BREC Announces Exciting Updates at October Commission Meeting
The Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC) announced several exciting updates at last night’s monthly Commission meeting.
BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo Director Announces Retirement
BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo Director, Phil Frost, announced today that he will set aside his current duties at BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo and enter retirement on February 4, 2022. His career spans 40+ years in the world of Zoos, with the past 24 years serving BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo.
BREC Seeks Public Input for Scotlandville Parkway Master Plan
BREC announces the master planning process of the Scotlandville Parkway, a tremendous recreational asset located in North Baton Rouge.?Community partners including Healthy BR, Community Against Drugs and Violence (CADAV), Scotland Saturdays, Front Yard Bikes, and Bike Baton Rouge are working collaboratively with BREC to gather public input with support from a Trust for Public Land grant.
Baton Rouge Boom Bash Celebrates Installation of Litter Catcher in Bayou Fountain
BREC, the Louisiana Stormwater Coalition (LSC), Paddle BR and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF) have entered a partnership to install a boom to clean up litter that washes down the waterway every time it rains.
Survey Shows Majority of Residents Satisfied with BREC Services, Weren’t Consulted About Breakaway Bill
Before filing a bill to take resources from BREC and create additional park systems, the authors of Senate Bill 205 largely neglected to consult with voters who approved the property taxes that fund the parish-wide agency and its 10-year strategic plan to determine whether they support such a drastic change.
BREC Responds to Bill Filed for the 2021 Legislative Session
BREC is expressing deep disappointment in Senate Bill 205, which seeks to pull assets from award-winning and nationally recognized park parish-wide park and recreation system for the creation of three new parks and recreation districts, along with new paid staff and governing authorities.
BREC Mourns Death of Longest Serving Commissioner
The Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC) is mourning the death of Commission Davis Rhorer. Rhorer was appointed to the BREC Commission in 2013 by Mayor Kip Holden and reappointed by Mayor Sharon Weston-Broome in 2017
BREC Mourns the Death of the Longest Serving Superintendent in its History
For 42 years, the name Eugene A. Young was synonymous with BREC as he was the longest serving Superintendent in the agency’s history. Young retired in 2003 ending a 57-year career in the recreation and parks industry which began when he worked for recreation departments in Austin, Texas and Bloomington, Indiana while in college.
BREC Gives Notice Regarding Public Hearing
BREC will hold a public hearing on Thursday, September 24, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. at its administrative building in the board room of the BREC Commission located at 6201 Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana as shown in the notice below. The public hearing will be held to consider adopting an ordinance rolling forward millage rates to ensure BREC can continue to collect property taxes at the rate approved by voters. BREC’s current maximum millage, as approved by the voters at the ballot, is 14.463.?If BREC rolls forward its millages in September, it will result in an additional $3,594,820 for the park system.
BREC Commission Approves Master Plans for the Baton Rouge Zoo and Greenwood Community Park
The BREC Commission approved master plans for the Baton Rouge Zoo and Greenwood Community Park.
Open House Set for BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo and Greenwood Community Park Master Plans
BREC is pleased to announce the launch of the master planning processes for the Baton Rouge Zoo and Greenwood Community Park. Two nationally-acclaimed design consultants have been selected through a competitive bid process and kickoff meetings were held in late November 2018, allowing the consultants to gain a better understanding of the sites and scope of the projects.
Draft of Audit Shows BREC is Making Progress Recovering from the Historic Flood of 2016
BREC’s external auditor, Postlethwaite & Netterville, has submitted a preliminary draft of BREC’s 2017 annual audited financial statements to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor (LLA) as required by state law. The draft audit report, which cannot be finalized and released publicly until it is reviewed and approved by the LLA, shows that revenues generated from BREC’s programs and services have returned to pre-flood levels – increasing from $9,839,713 in 2016 to $10,137,338 in 2017, or a total increase of 3%.
BREC Takes First Step in Reimagining the Zoo and Greenwood Community Park
In the first step toward the creation of a reimagined Zoo and Greenwood Community Park, BREC is soliciting proposals from highly qualified and innovative design teams to develop a master plan for the 660-acre park.
BREC Releases Corrections to Public Statements Regarding Reimagined Zoo
Yesterday’s news conference held at Greenwood Community Park regarding BREC’s proposal for a more visible and sustainable location for the Baton Rouge Zoo included several incorrect statements made by speakers that BREC would like to correct.
BREC Commission to Vote on Alternate Location for the Baton Rouge Zoo
Thursday, March 22, the BREC Commission will hold its regularly scheduled meeting at 5 p.m. at 6201 Florida Boulevard. The meeting will include a presentation from outside experts who have evaluated BREC’s Airline Highway Park as a feasible site for the Zoo.