Seven years since the Master Plan and Phase 1 design, and four years since breaking ground, we’re thrilled to announce the grand opening of Greenwood Community Park and Baton Rouge Zoo Phase 1 on October 5th, 2024. Partnering with the Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC), the city, and the community, we’re proud to have designed a space that has truly come to life in ways we all imagined together.

There are many stories embedded in this park: it will lower the 100-year flood elevation, expand the tree canopy by 200%, restore the forest’s ecological health, and promote biodiversity. Most importantly, the park is a direct response to the community’s vision. Starting with over 5,000 community inputs, we’ve ensured that Phase 1 reflects the top-voted features: an adventure playground, a scenic bayou promenade, and a revitalized zoo.

Back in 2019, when we asked the community for input on what features and programs they wanted in the park, a child came to us and said that he wanted a giant animal in the playground. This sparked the idea to create a signature Louisiana-themed playground, culminating in a giant Louisiana black bear and a cub bear sculpture for kids to climb, slide on, and explore. 

This idea quickly gained support from residents and made its way into construction.  After numerous design iterations, in 2023, Sasaki, in collaboration with Earthscapes and BREC, unveiled the bear sculptures at the ASLA EXPO, where landscape architects and visitors celebrated their playful charm. Now, standing proudly in the heart of the Adventure Playground, these bear sculptures invite families of all ages and abilities to join in the fun. And to think, it all began with a child asking for a giant animal!

This process applies to every detail we designed for Greenwood Community Park. From the wooden steps leading to the bayou to the boardwalk entrance to the zoo and the wavy paths in the playground, we navigated each challenge with a commitment to creating a space that puts the community first.

Now, it’s time to celebrate.

Congratulations to BREC, the City of Baton Rouge, the community at large and our extensive consultant team for this remarkable journey. Cheers to future phases to come!

Consultants: 

• Utility Design, Hydraulic and Hydrologic Modeling – CSRS
• Zoo Exhibit Design – Torre Design Consortium
• Local Community Outreach – Franklin Associates
• Park Economics – HR&A Advisors
• Park Operations & Maintenance – ETM Associates
• Local Ecologist – Comite Resources + Coastal Environments
• Local Landscape Architect – CARBO
• Geotechnical – Eustis
• Cultural and Historic Landscape Specialist – Design Jones
• Playground Sculpture – Earthscape
• Lighting – Tillett
• Golf – CE Golf
• Structural Engineering – Julien
• MEP Engineering – AST Engineers
• Irrigation – Hines
• Traffic – Vecture