Downtown Parks Corridor Streetscape Im-provements

SIG-4

Observation

The Mississippi River is a significant natural asset in Downtown Baton Rouge. As a place of recreation and renewal the River has great appeal for people.

Discussion

The proximity of Downtown to the River allows several thousand people pedestrian access to the levee. In addition, many more have visual access daily from their office buildings.

The creation of the Downtown Parks Corridor will provide a place of rest and relaxation for downtown workers and a destination for other Baton Rouge residents and visitors to Downtown as well.

Recommendation

A. Define a Pedestrian Way.

Identify Parking: Limited parking for the Downtown Parks Corridor will be available in the new LaSalle Parking Garage and on-street parking will be available on River Road and adjacent streets .

Provide Safe Crossings: Provide bulbing and distinctively painted crossings at traffic lights and intersections between Government Street and North Boulevard, and from the Pen-tagon Barracks to Batture Park. In addition, all intersections crossing River Road between North Blvd. and North St. should have marked crosswalks.

Paving: There is an attractive pedestrian walkway on top of the levee that extends from the Argosy Casino to the terminus of Laurel Street. As part of the Pedestrian Way, it should be extended to connect with the proposed DeSoto Park. This segment of the Pedestrian Way should accommodate bicycles as well. Another segment of the Pedestrian Way is part of the proposed Bikeway system. Another segment of the Pedestrian Way should be located on River Road connecting the proposed plazas.

B. Create Pedestrian Scale

Street Furnishings: Continue the pattern established on top of the levee with dark green iron benches, light standards and trash receptacles. A pavilion with a drinking fountain and re-strooms should be provided in the Downtown Parks Corridor in DeSoto Park.

Street Trees: A variety of street trees are recommended for River Road.

C. Enhance District Identity

The following features are recommended to strengthen the identity of the Downtown Parks Corridor.

Distinctive Entrances: Vehicular entrances should be created for the Downtown Parks Corridor on River Road at DeSoto Park.

[See Capitol Park Interpretive Plan.]

Defined Edges: The edges of the Corridor are River Road, the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge Landing District and DeSo-toPark in Capitol Park.

Parks: Parks proposed for the Corridor are the Square at the Centroplex, Riverside Park, Lafayette Park, Laurel Street Plaza, and DeSoto Park.

Civic Art : Art projects designed around the theme of “The River and the City “ should be incorporated into the design of the Pedestrian Way in the Downtown Parks Corridor through a partnership with the Arts Council and Create Baton Rouge.

[See One Percent for Art plan.]

Project Status

No update.

Implementation

Explanation of Terms

Product

Streetscape Improvements

Responsibility

PBR & DDD

Implementing Agent

DPW

Feasibility Analysis

DDD

Initial Financing

PBR

Project Financing

CPF

Timing