NEWS

Notice of Public Hearing

Notice is hereby given that a public hearing of Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge will be held.

BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo Again Earns Prestigious National Accreditation

After an extensive year-long process, the Baton Rouge Zoo has once again achieved AZA accreditation.

From Vision to Reality: BREC to Unveil Impactful Initiatives in 2024

Unleashing Your Creativity with Canine Costumes for BREC's Trick and Treat

Growing Up with BREC: Homeschool Opportunities for All Ages

Your PAW-some Guide to Fur Friendly Events with BREC

Managing the Heat this Summer? Here's How it's Done for Baton Rouge Zoo Residents!

As the summer heats up, we often get asked by visitors what the zoo staff does to keep our animal residents cool. Read more to learn how!

Explore the Southern Bluffs Art Walk at the Scotlandville Greenway

May is National Bike Month. At BREC Greenways, we thought why not end the month by riding and checking out our newly named Southern Bluffs Trail that is part of the Scotlandville Parkway Greenway?

5 (Budget-Friendly) Must Haves for Every Golf Beginner

BREC's Guide to Plant ID

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 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 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.

5 Spots to Start Your Birding Adventure

So you’ve decided to join the vast birder movement but don’t know where to begin with the 470 birds that traverse through Louisiana? We don’t blame you! From physical identification to call identification, each bird can have many variations of the two. With that, it can be a daunting task, but we’re here to help!

Celebrating American Wetlands Month In Louisiana

Did you know that May is American Wetlands Month? American Wetlands Month was created to help celebrate the importance and value of wetlands.

Witnessing the Magic of Creativity

Time and time again, I have seen the process of being creative change lives. Through teaching and organizing dozens, maybe even hundreds of art events, classes, camps and workshops I’ve noticed changes in almost every aspect of what makes us human. Curiosity, sudden realization, social and self-awareness, emotional investment, mindfulness, sensory development, vocabulary enrichment and a prideful sense of accomplishment. Being witness to such is my passion.