Sasaki delivers City-Brooks Park master plan; BREC only votes to accept the plan as complete, not to implement it

# What happened Sasaki Associates presented the City-Brooks Park Master Plan to the BREC Commission after roughly 12 months of work and multiple rounds of public input, including thousands of surveys. The commission held a vote to accept that the master plan is finished. That vote did not approve construction, funding, or implementation steps.

# The plan at a glance Sasaki's vision splits the project into six phases, with an estimated aggregate cost of about $100 million to be spent over 15–20 years. The staging prioritizes Brooks Park because it has seen minimal investment in recent decades.

Planned or proposed elements include:

• New running track and sports field additions at Brooks Park
• Upgrades to the Brooks Pool and Recreation Center
• An active waterfront with kayaking opportunities
• Preservation of the golf course, though some proposed concepts alter its footprint
• Amenities that drew resident support such as a dog park and a children's "knock-knock" museum

# Public response and points of friction

• Cost: Commissioners and residents questioned feasibility of funding roughly $100 million over two decades. BREC Vice Commission Chair Wade Evans said he does not see a clear path to pay that sum.
• Golf course changes: Some residents object to concepts that would alter the historic City Park golf course footprint.
• Local control: Some residents argued that Baton Rouge citizens should have final say on design decisions, noting local investment in the engagement process.

Supporters pointed to widely popular elements such as pool upgrades, the dog park, and certain family-focused features. BREC Commissioner Lon Vicknair noted the plan is not an all-or-nothing proposition and that commissioners saw parts they would and would not want to pursue.

# Budget and prior planning costs The broader planning process itself has cost BREC funds. Earlier reporting noted planning spending reached more than $640,000 after the commission approved an extra payment to Sasaki to cover additional public meetings and stakeholder sessions. That context contributes to tensions over additional expenditures and future construction budgets.

# What comes next Accepting the master plan as complete is a procedural step. The BREC Commission will have to consider specific implementation actions, funding sources and any design changes at later meetings. Given commissioner concerns about affordability and resident objections on specific elements, expect more public discussion and formal votes before work occurs.

# Why this matters locally City-Brooks Park and Brooks Park are public assets with diverse user groups: golfers, pool patrons, families, dog owners, recreation athletes, and neighborhood residents. The final choices about scope, funding and design will shape how the parks serve those groups and how city dollars are allocated over many years.

# Quick takeaways for readers If you want to influence the outcome: follow BREC meeting agendas and public comment opportunities. If you're watching costs and priorities: expect phased proposals and incremental approvals rather than immediate construction. If you care about the golf course footprint: raise that issue in upcoming public sessions, since it remains a point of contention.