The BREC Foundation welcomed Gil Penalosa, Executive Director of Walk and Bike for Life to Baton Rouge on Monday, January 26, 2009.  Mr. Penalosa is a world-renowned planner of biking and walking programs and facilities. He spoke  to nearly 200 people at a BREC Foundation event to discuss the future of Trail Development in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Penalosa used examples of cities in the United States, Canada, and Europe to illustrate his point that people might prefer an alternative to driving. Portland, OR, and Boulder, CO, are examples of cities that implemented changes and made room for pedestrian and cyclist traffic. "If people feel safe and comfortable, they'll be more likely to use their preferred mode of transportation - walking, biking, riding (a bus) or driving," Penalosa said. "If your city does not provide a safe space for people to walk or ride their bikes alongside other traffic, it won't matter how much they want to do it; they won't risk walking or biking." During his presentation, Penalosa showed a quote, "Even I'm afraid to ride my bike in ..." After getting the audience's attention, he showed that the quote came from Lance Armstrong.

According to Penalosa walking and biking trails not only benefit the community/city, but the EARTH - environment, activities (economic development), recreation, transportation, and health. While Penalosa focused much of his talk on walking and biking areas on streets, he emphasized the importance of trails and parks. A good trail system is important to a community's quality of life. And, East Baton Rouge Parish residents certainly agree. Trails were the number one requested item by citizens who participated in the "Imagine Your Parks" planning. Voters approved "Imagine Your Parks" in November, 2004. Since that time, BREC parks have undergone change, renovation and construction.

Ted Jack, BREC Director of Planning and Engineering, provided an update on the Capital Area Pathways Project (CAPP). He said pedestrian walkways and rails are in demand. "The first trails built since passing the "Imagine Your Parks" proposal are proving quite popular. Walking paths have been built at Anna T. Jordan and City-Brooks Community parks and several neighborhood parks," Jack said. He briefly discussed work on connectivity trails, which is a greater challenge since it involves multiple agencies and landowners. Jack also updated participants on the Wards-Dawson Creek Pathway, including a portion called "The Medical Mile" which is being pursued as a priority project. Other efforts, such as a new trail head at Farr Park, are moving forward.

People attending the event were enthusiastic about BREC's progress and asked numerous questions. This event was the second sponsored by the BREC Foundation to bring in high profile speakers who can address issues and opportunities for BREC and the general public. Carl Stages, executive director of the BREC Foundation, said, "Events such as this help to motivate people in attendance and encourage progress and improvement of BREC parks."

May 23, 2008

Refined Conceptual Plan of the Wards Creek Linear Park

A refined conceptual plan of the Wards-Dawson Creek Linear Park has been developed. BREC Planning and Engineering continues to work with property owners to plan for the trail. The Capital Area Pathways Project seeks to link residential and commercial areas into an exciting linear park greenway. It has the potential to provide recreational transportation connections throughout our community. We have completed the following actions:

1. Generally located the proposed path and trailheads.

2. Contacted land owners and received tentative agreements on the trail concept and location.

3. Walked and inventoried the intended path of the trail and noted areas that require special consideration in design and construction.

4. Developed conceptual path cross-sections and conceptual trailhead plans.

5. Developed an initial cost estimate.

6. Began work on issues of ownership, liability, maintenance, and construction. Phase 1 of the Pathway will extend along the Wards Creek right-of-way from the Siegen Lane overpass to Bluebonnet Boulevard. see Projects page

May 2008

Currents Magazine Article "A Good Step" for CAPP, page 18:

http://www.braf.org/site/c.jfISK0OxFkG/b.2247683/

January 25, 2008

2theadvocate.com Article:

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/14303642.html