1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:06,319 ers is walking in. I am Janet Simmons. I'm the interim 2 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:10,400 superintendent of Breck and we're delighted to be here tonight to present 3 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:15,519 some of the ideas that we have for the Baker City Parks. And we're excited to 4 00:00:13,679 --> 00:00:21,439 be here and being able to work with the mayor on getting some park systems here 5 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:28,119 in Baker active up and running and have kids play. So, without any further ado, 6 00:00:25,119 --> 00:00:28,119 mayor, 7 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:35,480 » can you get away? Can't get away. >> Can't get away. 8 00:00:31,199 --> 00:00:35,480 » Can't get away. I need an agenda. 9 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:38,840 » Here he come. 10 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:55,600 » Is it raining out there? >> Okay. All right. So, we're going to do 11 00:00:51,280 --> 00:01:00,559 and the the very purpose tonight is to go over the agenda. All of you should 12 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:06,400 have an agenda tonight and we're going to talk about the parks um and what 13 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:15,040 what's going to happen uh probably in the next 24 to 36 months and what what 14 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:20,479 we're working on. Um, so we will, um, you met Janet and so what I want to 15 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:27,119 do is we don't have a lot of people in the room and so um, we going to what 16 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:32,799 we'll do you guys uh, we'll take questions now. Um, real quick questions 17 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:35,840 to the agenda about what you see, what you're looking for. We'll take the notes 18 00:01:34,479 --> 00:01:41,439 and we'll go from there. How about that? Is that good? So you can be able to come 19 00:01:38,079 --> 00:01:46,079 up to the mic and um and and just talk about, you know, what you see or what 20 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:51,680 you think we should have. Make sure you state where you live and where you from 21 00:01:48,799 --> 00:01:56,920 so we'll know the areas. Okay. How about that real quick? You want to do that? 22 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,920 Got that? 23 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:05,119 » Yeah. Um I'll go ahead and introduce I wanted the elected officials to come up 24 00:02:02,159 --> 00:02:11,120 and introduce ourselves and and go from there. Um, we we do have, matter of 25 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:14,640 fact, let's do this. Um, huh. You want to do that? You want to do 26 00:02:13,599 --> 00:02:16,800 that answer? >> Oh, yeah. I'm going to do my 27 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:20,160 presentation about 10 15 minutes and then we'll do questions and answers. 28 00:02:18,239 --> 00:02:24,319 » Okay. I know. I thought I saw Robert Young in here. I did saw Council Young 29 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:31,280 in here. Let's give him a big grandpa. He's here. Um, we got anyone in the 30 00:02:28,239 --> 00:02:35,519 picture here? I think we got a lot of people do a lot 31 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:38,560 of work here. So, um, okay. I'm just going to turn it back over to Angela. 32 00:02:36,959 --> 00:02:41,920 She can do a presentation and then we'll move forward. 33 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:46,480 » All right. >> All right. Well, thank y'all for coming 34 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:50,080 out in the nasty weather. Uh, we are going to go through some parks and some 35 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:53,599 initiatives that uh Brett and the city of Baker are working on. Uh, so these 36 00:02:52,319 --> 00:02:56,720 are really exciting. I'm going to go through them kind of quickly. So, if you 37 00:02:55,200 --> 00:03:00,239 have any questions, just either write them down, remember them, come up to the 38 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:04,239 mic, and we'll have a nice Q&A afterwards. 39 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:09,519 All right. So, the first thing we want to talk about is the new initiative that 40 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:14,879 we have with uh with mayor on the corridor to Baker. Starting from I10 41 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:19,440 when you get off of the interstate at 19, what that looks like when you're you 42 00:03:17,920 --> 00:03:23,920 know, when you come off the interstate, are you seeing signs that say, you know, 43 00:03:22,239 --> 00:03:29,360 come this way to the zoo, come this way to our parks, um you know, come this way 44 00:03:26,640 --> 00:03:33,040 to Popeye's, McDonald's, all the places that, you know, Baker has to offer. So, 45 00:03:31,519 --> 00:03:36,239 if we're not seeing that, then we're not getting the best of, you know, people 46 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:40,159 coming down the corridor. How do we clean up the corridor? How do we make 47 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:44,159 the the entrance to Baker really nice and fabulous and a place that people 48 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:47,599 want to be? So, this is just some of the things that are offered right off of 49 00:03:45,599 --> 00:03:52,319 that that corridor right when you enter the city. So, we want to be able to 50 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:56,640 contribute where you brick uh zoo, we have a lot of parks, even right before 51 00:03:54,319 --> 00:04:01,680 you get into Baker, we have two parks. So, wanted to make sure people know 52 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:04,799 about those parks. Um, South Magnolia is another one, you know, right when you 53 00:04:02,879 --> 00:04:08,159 come in, it's right there on the on the other side of the of the tracks that 54 00:04:06,319 --> 00:04:11,920 people don't know about. So, that's one of the parks we're going to talk about 55 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:14,920 tonight is um improvements to South Magnolia. 56 00:04:15,439 --> 00:04:21,199 And I'll let Mayor talk a little bit more if he wants to about this 57 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:25,520 initiative of the corridor, the entryway to Baker. But this is one of the things 58 00:04:23,199 --> 00:04:30,639 that we want to address first. This is that little park that you see when you 59 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:34,400 come off the D frame and you're at 19 making that turn on Highway 19 from the 60 00:04:32,639 --> 00:04:39,680 interstate. It's actually part of Scotlandville Parkway. And Scotlandville 61 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:44,479 Parkway is actually uh being renamed right now for Melvin Kit Balden. So, 62 00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:49,040 we're really happy to announce that. Um so, this little pocket park, if I can 63 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:54,720 get my little pointer to work, this is the exit off of 110 coming this way onto 64 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:58,400 19. And so this little park here is kind of 65 00:04:56,400 --> 00:05:01,440 it's a little underwhelming. So it's it needs some improvements. We want to do 66 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:05,520 some work with the fence. We want to clean up some of the trees. We want to 67 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:10,560 make it visible. We want to have it be the announcement to where you're going. 68 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:15,120 The announcement to Baker. So something beautiful, something eye-catching. Maybe 69 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:19,440 it's a really big art piece. Maybe it's some really interesting signage. Um 70 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:25,919 something that really draws your eye and makes you want to go into Baker. 71 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:30,080 So that's one initiative. One of our other big initiatives is Baker Ball 72 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:33,759 Fields. So this is a park that you're going to have an opportunity to give us 73 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:38,000 some feedback tonight on Baker Ball Fields. Currently we do have ball fields 74 00:05:35,919 --> 00:05:41,360 there. Uh this is the park down Jefferson Street. Not the first one you 75 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:45,600 get to, but the second one. So that's Baker Park. Um a lot of people, we have 76 00:05:43,919 --> 00:05:49,440 two parks on Jefferson Street. One's Jefferson Street Park, one's Baker Park. 77 00:05:47,840 --> 00:05:53,680 So, they're a little confusing, but this one has the um the three ball fields 78 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:56,960 right now, a concession stand, and a playground. 79 00:05:55,199 --> 00:06:04,479 Excuse me. So, what we're looking at doing is a tournament level ball 80 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:09,759 complex. So, one of our options has got my little thingy has um two high 81 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:13,919 school fields and two practice fields, a new parking lot, and expanded um 82 00:06:11,759 --> 00:06:19,440 overflow park. So, this would be an opportunity for Baldi's to come. 83 00:06:16,479 --> 00:06:24,319 overflow tournament uh play they're at another bigger facility they could have 84 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:29,680 ball um all play here too. These would be turfed fields synthetic turf so you 85 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:35,199 could play when it rains like it did today. You could play tomorrow. 86 00:06:32,639 --> 00:06:39,120 So this is one option. The second option has the one high 87 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:44,000 school field and two smaller fields that you could play softball on. still all um 88 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:48,160 artificial turf and then the practice field would be regular grass, natural 89 00:06:46,479 --> 00:06:52,960 grass. So these are two options. When we finish 90 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:57,440 our Q&A session, we'll go to the boards and uh project manager Peter Cuff is 91 00:06:55,759 --> 00:07:00,720 going to help you kind of get your feedback and take any notes you may 92 00:06:59,280 --> 00:07:06,240 have, you know, any comments you want to give us. So um we're excited to hear 93 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:10,000 what y'all think about this. And then I'll tell you a little bit. 94 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:13,840 This is just some precedent imagery. You'll see it closer up on the board, 95 00:07:11,759 --> 00:07:18,240 but this is like the the level of service we want to provide with this 96 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:22,400 park. Um, really nice back stops, you know, nice netting, true dugouts, 97 00:07:19,919 --> 00:07:28,000 covered features, covered walls, uh, really nice ball complex. 98 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:32,800 South Magnolia Park is another park that we want your feedback on tonight. We 99 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:36,319 have a master plan for South Magnolia. We want to do a public survey. So, at 100 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:40,720 the table over there, Will, wave your hand, Will. Will's one of our project 101 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:45,280 managers. He is going to take uh give you a survey on our iPads and we can get 102 00:07:43,039 --> 00:07:50,080 your feedback on preferences for South Magnolia. Uh preferences would include 103 00:07:47,759 --> 00:07:55,520 anything from playground equipment, uh new courts, basketball courts, maybe 104 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:59,199 it's football, maybe it's um you know basketball, tennis. What do we want to 105 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:02,960 see there? And this is where we're at in our 106 00:08:00,639 --> 00:08:06,800 timeline. This is kind of us right now in design. We would like to get this 107 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:11,800 project bid out by the end of the year so we can start construction first of 108 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:11,800 2027. 109 00:08:13,199 --> 00:08:20,879 Greenwood, we have a lot going on as people know at Greenwood, it continues. 110 00:08:17,919 --> 00:08:25,520 It's a very large park. Um, and so we wanted to highlight a few of the things 111 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:29,039 we're doing. One of them which is I think is most exciting because it's 112 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:35,680 going to provide a lot of safety on Highway 19. It is the Highway 19 turns. 113 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:40,640 This is a project that we initiated with the OC to confirm the companies on 114 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:48,240 Highway 19 to come into the park at Greenville. So we bre did the um 115 00:08:45,279 --> 00:08:53,360 expedited design for DOT in order to get those tile lines built. Do is starting 116 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:57,120 right now on their uh what they call an assembly period where they're getting 117 00:08:55,040 --> 00:09:00,720 ready. They've already did the project. They're getting ready to start 118 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:07,200 construction any day now. It's supposed to be under construction before the end 119 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:12,399 in in June. So, and I'll show you some images of what that looks like. And then 120 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:19,440 I'll show you some imagery on Lady Lane, our entryway into Greenwood Park, as 121 00:09:15,279 --> 00:09:25,519 well as some ideas for phase two. So, this is the turn lanes. Um, this is 122 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:29,680 if you're coming into Baker from the interstate and then back towards the 123 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:34,320 interstate. So, this is kind of north south, but it's sideways. Uh, so this is 124 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:39,200 the entryway into Greenwood Park, and this is New Rage Meer Road here. So, as 125 00:09:36,959 --> 00:09:43,680 you know, when you're coming down 19, it's really dangerous to turn left in 126 00:09:41,680 --> 00:09:48,320 both directions. And so, those are going to be dedicated turn lanes. So, you'll 127 00:09:45,839 --> 00:09:53,120 have safe turning into uh onto New Wave Meer and into the park. 128 00:09:51,279 --> 00:09:57,920 So, we're we're super happy for this. So, we'll get rid of that no left turn 129 00:09:54,720 --> 00:10:02,160 sign coming from Bakery into the park. This project, like I said, is um 130 00:09:59,839 --> 00:10:06,399 starting construction right now and it will go through. 131 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:10,800 It's actually a pretty quick project. So, it won't it'll be done before the 132 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:15,360 end of the year. All right. So, Lady Lane. So, in from 133 00:10:13,279 --> 00:10:21,360 Lady Lane into Greenwood Park, there's currently no entrance. You just go into 134 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:26,320 this clubhouse. So, now we are going to have a turn lane. This is Ley near uh 135 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:30,880 Sugarore. And then you will have a new street that comes all the way into the 136 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:34,320 park to where the the waterfront building is right into the playground. 137 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:39,440 So it's going to come into the back side of that playground parking lot. And so 138 00:10:36,560 --> 00:10:43,360 you'll have um a dedicated entry and exit there. That's going to help 139 00:10:40,959 --> 00:10:46,800 tremendously with our traffic. So our traffic that goes into the zoo during 140 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:51,200 high, you know, high use times, big events, that's really going to help with 141 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:56,399 entry and exit. uh so that you'll have as much traffic going on Highway 19. 142 00:10:53,600 --> 00:11:00,800 Kind of spread it out a little bit. This project is currently under design. 143 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:07,680 We are going to bid it. It's a little hard to see. It's going to bid by the 144 00:11:03,519 --> 00:11:14,079 end of the year. Uh first of first part of Oh, the end of the year 145 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:17,079 for the last quarter of the year under construction. 146 00:11:18,399 --> 00:11:25,600 This is um what is going on now at Greenwood. There's a lot of dirt moving 147 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:30,000 around in Greenwood Park. This was a watershed initiative project. It's a 148 00:11:27,519 --> 00:11:34,560 grant we received. Um and it is to dredge the lake, expand the lake here. 149 00:11:32,560 --> 00:11:38,160 As you see, this is a brand new picture of a new island. Uh so now you'll be 150 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:42,399 able to kayak all the way around the lake, around this island, and around 151 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:47,040 this island. Uh the waterfront building will reopen once construction is 152 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:51,519 complete. Uh which is uh slated for the end of this year. So we'll have new 153 00:11:49,519 --> 00:11:56,640 nature trails that go around the lake and up. This is Cypress Bayou through 154 00:11:54,399 --> 00:12:00,399 here. And uh this is to help storm water management. All the water that comes 155 00:11:58,399 --> 00:12:03,880 down from Baker through the park into Cypress Bayou. 156 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:12,560 Future phases. Uh this is Oops. Future phases along Lady Lane. This is Ley 157 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:16,639 across the top. This is an area of the old Dumas golf course that's $5 158 00:12:14,560 --> 00:12:22,160 currently. And so these are some just thoughts and ideas of the next phase. 159 00:12:19,519 --> 00:12:26,880 What could we do in that corner? Um it we are thinking we have some kind of 160 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:32,959 tournament level really nice soccer fields. It would kind of either replace 161 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:37,920 or um complement the ones that are on uh the intersection at Thomas and 19. So, 162 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:42,320 these would be really nice soccer fields, concessions, restrooms. Other 163 00:12:40,399 --> 00:12:47,600 thoughts are community garden, picnic areas, cross country trails, dog park. 164 00:12:45,279 --> 00:12:50,959 We have a dog park down in Greenwood. We think we can we can move it up to this 165 00:12:49,279 --> 00:12:54,959 area where there's more people that that could walk there. Um, with the mayor's 166 00:12:53,600 --> 00:13:00,800 initiative and the different projects that we have going on, the sidewalk that 167 00:12:57,360 --> 00:13:04,560 we have along um along Lane will continue all the way down. And so that's 168 00:13:03,279 --> 00:13:08,079 going to be a really good opportunity for for a different mode of 169 00:13:06,399 --> 00:13:13,120 transportation, whether that's walking or biking. 170 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:17,680 All right. And our last one here that we have is the rec center transition plan. 171 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:21,600 This is a plan we have across the parish to look at our inventory of of rec 172 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:25,120 centers and to see how we can sustainably move forward with our rec 173 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:31,120 centers. How can we provide air conditioned gyms um and and improve and 174 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:34,480 modernize our rec centers? Luckily, um, the Baker Rec Center already has air 175 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:39,920 conditioning. It was one of the first that we did in 2017. So, our Baker Rec 176 00:13:37,519 --> 00:13:44,560 Center is very nicely equipped with new air conditioning, which was recently 177 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:49,519 replaced. Uh, it's very nice now. That had an 178 00:13:46,639 --> 00:13:53,600 ignition done in 2017 as well. The roof was replaced and the floor was replaced 179 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:57,519 at that time. So, we're a little ahead of the game 180 00:13:55,040 --> 00:14:01,600 here in Baker with our rec centers. Um we do want to make some improvements to 181 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:07,199 TD vehicle and so we are going to have um some opportunity for feedback as we 182 00:14:03,839 --> 00:14:11,600 continue into this process with um what do we want to see in TD? Is it 183 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:16,880 better community rooms, modern community rooms, meeting spaces like this one uh 184 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:23,040 where you have community meetings or um reunions or parties? Um and then the 185 00:14:20,639 --> 00:14:27,680 outdoor you know what do we do with the gym? So, if we have an air conditioner 186 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:32,079 in the area, we want to be able to provide a different type of recreation 187 00:14:30,079 --> 00:14:36,720 uh and also one that maybe doesn't have to be staffed uh all the time. And so, 188 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:41,279 when you have an outdoor um area like this, it can be used for a multitude of 189 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:45,360 things and not be staffed and can be open when we wouldn't be able to 190 00:14:42,959 --> 00:14:52,079 manually. So you would have an opportunity to have it's basketball, um 191 00:14:49,199 --> 00:14:56,639 yoga, tennis, uh pickle ball, whatever those items might be to have outdoor 192 00:14:54,240 --> 00:15:04,880 recreation uh kind of on your own and not um rely on um hours of operation 193 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:11,120 that would be able to provide. >> I think that is I'm out of breath. 194 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:19,279 » Okay. All right. So, let's go back. Let's take a slide back to um the name 195 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:21,120 road. Let's go back to this. 196 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:28,000 » There you go. >> Now, that that that road is coming up 197 00:15:24,959 --> 00:15:33,040 going back into the front. That's all if you set it in front of Shalu. That's 198 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:39,199 what we're talking about. And the deal is is that we want we're going to slow 199 00:15:35,279 --> 00:15:42,880 the traffic down because we want to run We we're trying to work to get that 200 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:49,440 round about right there. We saw that traffic now, but we have uh kind of our 201 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:54,000 way in the state now to run right there in front of 202 00:15:51,519 --> 00:15:58,320 sidewalks all the way down lane to Sunshine. That's first phase. Second 203 00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:03,519 phase is that we're going to run the next phase all the way down to Plank 204 00:16:01,199 --> 00:16:09,600 Road. And that's part of the initiative we had years ago. We put the walking 205 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:16,000 trails in so we can connect to the break. So now the kids can you can walk 206 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:21,120 all the way from Plank Road, cross over on Ly Lane, go to the park, walk all the 207 00:16:19,279 --> 00:16:25,839 way down to Thomas and everything else that's going in there. And that's what 208 00:16:22,959 --> 00:16:30,880 we want. They don't have to do all that. We got to slow the traffic down. 209 00:16:28,639 --> 00:16:38,560 That's the deal on that. And that gives us another outway coming in to the park 210 00:16:34,639 --> 00:16:45,120 from that area. Also, it has an opportunity there to have um to have 211 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:49,040 businesses in that area depending on what is there at that particular time. 212 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:54,160 So, that's one way. So, not all the traffic is not coming in on Highway 19 213 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:58,320 going in and out, but they're coming into a roundabout and they go so the 214 00:16:56,240 --> 00:17:02,399 traffic is not stopped. It's going to be what we want. We wanted that walking l. 215 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:07,079 That's the reason we did it l the way we did it so we can be able to 216 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:16,000 be walking the park down all the way down. 217 00:17:13,919 --> 00:17:23,919 So they go to the park while they're walking. We'll be able to do that. Um so 218 00:17:20,319 --> 00:17:30,960 let's go back. Uh no. So any wrong that's going around and 219 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:33,960 they find out there but we couldn't do anything. 220 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:40,039 I just and so we got some train 221 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:47,360 a little bit. It's not we didn't put it there. So we 222 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:51,600 run up and down. We're going to stop. We're going to meet with the council and 223 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:56,720 we're going to come up with what we want riding on there cuz those big trucks 224 00:17:53,679 --> 00:18:02,880 they ter that's what they do and so we want to keep it for another um we want 225 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:09,520 to keep it for another 10 to 15 years and this is uh let's get back to the 226 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:12,960 ball fields real quick. Um, you want to hear this? So, this is cuz 227 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:18,559 this is the one. This is you want to go this 228 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:22,600 off cuz everybody Why are you so What's What's your deal with the office? 229 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:34,640 If you go to Central and you go to Zack or you go to Youngsville or Brousard or 230 00:18:31,120 --> 00:18:40,240 West, wrestling has a thousand people in it. They're not a big town, but every 231 00:18:37,120 --> 00:18:47,120 weekend they got hundreds of people at that baseball conference. When the 232 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:51,600 baseball is year round, okay, it is year round. That means that they're going to 233 00:18:49,039 --> 00:18:57,280 travel. And when they travel and you put a ball complex, a baseball complex in 234 00:18:54,640 --> 00:19:02,960 there, hotels, okay, so now take a look at where 235 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:07,280 Americana is located and people talk about it. They build that ball field 236 00:19:05,120 --> 00:19:13,280 there in there for years. When I got here in 1999, the ball field was being 237 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:17,679 built there. But that hotel is there, that's because 238 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:22,080 of that baseball field. That wall that's in there, they they market, that's 239 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:24,640 because of that baseball field. Because they're going to need somewhere to stay, 240 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:29,679 they going to need somewhere to eat. That's the purpose of the ball fields to 241 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:34,640 make sure that we can create commerce coming in to the city and bring more 242 00:19:32,559 --> 00:19:38,400 hotels, bring more restaurants that we talk about because they're going to 243 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:45,360 follow. If you go to central, just sit there in both places every weekend that 244 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:51,520 they come in. And so this this gives us an angle here to say, okay, look, can 245 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:57,360 you bring can we get quartered hotels in the city? We got a hotel that that that 246 00:19:54,880 --> 00:20:04,280 do really well with the industry. We want hotels. So when we put in hotel 247 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,280 inter 248 00:20:09,039 --> 00:20:15,520 you got to grow it. It's just not for us. It's so people come through. There's 249 00:20:13,679 --> 00:20:19,440 so much traffic that comes through. The reason that you got the high school here 250 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:24,160 with it right and tell me if I'm wrong is because Baker Baker is going to 251 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:29,600 probably start with their football stadium trying to get that together and 252 00:20:27,679 --> 00:20:32,960 bring it up cuz you got to have trouble sometimes. I mean, everywhere we go, the 253 00:20:31,360 --> 00:20:36,000 way that those kids play, they're playing on the road. You know, they're 254 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:40,320 playing in places that are really, really nice. And then when you come 255 00:20:37,919 --> 00:20:44,720 home, you know, they got so they got to get that. But when you get this feeling, 256 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:51,280 this baseball, the high school baseball team can play at that field. And we've 257 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:55,280 already provided great provide for the girls softball team. They've been 258 00:20:53,360 --> 00:20:58,880 playing in a special place, but now they don't have a place here. That's why J 259 00:20:56,799 --> 00:21:02,280 wanted it the way he wanted so he can cover both. 260 00:21:03,360 --> 00:21:13,280 Um, so she said nine and then I really want to shut up in the ground the first 261 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:19,039 part of 2027 that we can shut the ground. So our home got phase in and we 262 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:23,600 you know we're not we're not waiting the whole field start we're going to phase 263 00:21:21,039 --> 00:21:28,559 it in and start bringing it in. Here's the uh what you think about tonight. The 264 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:31,840 field on South on South 265 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:39,520 right that we just just did the river cut off 266 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:48,080 the with the toss co and up to 90 year olds. But now if you think about it 267 00:21:43,679 --> 00:21:52,159 there's no other little kids field. So the people that run the tournaments 268 00:21:49,679 --> 00:21:56,400 are already calling us to get in the tournaments to get that field going. 269 00:21:54,320 --> 00:22:00,080 That field is one of the things too. And so that's part of the process that 270 00:21:58,559 --> 00:22:06,000 Gerald talked about. We talked about this years ago that we wanted our kids 271 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:10,080 to grow up and our recreational program. We got tired of waking up and in the 272 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:14,400 morning reading the paper and see kids that live right down the street scoring 273 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:18,640 50 points for another team. We have took them somewhere to put them in the 274 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:23,600 schools. Okay. So, it's all coming together now. So, we want to bring them 275 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:27,520 up and with recreation, not just that, we going to teach them. You know, it's 276 00:22:25,360 --> 00:22:32,000 more to what y'all got going on than just recreation. You know, we building 277 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:36,400 young men and young women. We want to have our hands on our kids. So, we bring 278 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:40,080 them through there. They go and they go to these leagues here with the big the 279 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:43,600 big leagues. We make sure they're in high school. We put them in our high 280 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:47,840 school. They pay for our high school teams and then they leave and go. But 281 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:53,360 all the time we got our hand when they come and so we stop all that coaching 282 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:57,919 and all that stealing waking up. We want our kids to grow up here. So all these 283 00:22:55,600 --> 00:23:01,360 houses being built now they got kids in them just they got little kids. These 284 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:06,080 kids are going to grow up here. So the future's bright. The future's bright for 285 00:23:04,159 --> 00:23:10,960 you. By the time those kids start growing up, these bills will be ready to 286 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:15,280 go. All right, let's go back one more Angel 287 00:23:13,919 --> 00:23:19,120 job because I want to make sure that everybody So that's the two types of 288 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:24,000 policy I'm going to talk about as you walk around. Go back again. 289 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:26,799 » That's corridor. >> It's the corridor. 290 00:23:25,360 --> 00:23:32,000 » Corridor 19. >> 19. Um, 291 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:35,039 okay. So, >> Interstate signs. 292 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:40,559 » Yeah, the interstate sign and stuff like this. So, yeah. So here they were 293 00:23:37,679 --> 00:23:44,720 Highway 19 that we're trying to do here to bring people out. They changed the 294 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:51,039 opening for the zoo for the park cuz it's a zoo 295 00:23:47,679 --> 00:23:56,159 in a park. It's $300 million. So they changed that. So what we're 296 00:23:52,960 --> 00:24:00,960 doing with that portal on Highway 19 is that we're working that portal all the 297 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:04,799 way from I1. Okay? Because that was part of the 298 00:24:03,039 --> 00:24:11,200 problem. We want people when they get off I1, we don't want them to be afraid 299 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:16,320 to come down 19 to the zoo. Now the zoo is in bad rules that parking in Bat 300 00:24:13,120 --> 00:24:23,039 Rouge, but indirect revenue is going to come from that mall. Okay? And and I 301 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:29,120 know you tell indirect, that's what we call a rocket and it's going to bring 302 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:34,960 people cuz we got shopping all down Highway 19. And so mommy mommy digs they 303 00:24:33,279 --> 00:24:39,279 might not want it in the park they can come to the paper and we want to put 304 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:44,960 things that people see when you see things like a movie and that's that's so 305 00:24:43,279 --> 00:24:52,080 we want to clean it up and then we wanted the signs for the 306 00:24:49,039 --> 00:24:57,120 all the way down I 10 until you get almost here and I 307 00:24:54,320 --> 00:25:03,440 understand we there should be signs right out street on our downtown that 308 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:07,039 says Baker, Southern University, Bad Roo School or whatever. That's that's what 309 00:25:05,360 --> 00:25:11,440 we're trying to work at. And so we're working with DOT to be able to get that 310 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:16,080 done. And then we're going to make sure Highway 19 is clean. So we're working 311 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:22,559 with uh Anthony Kennedy to make sure that our way and we keep the grass cut 312 00:25:19,679 --> 00:25:27,520 all the way down to that area. It looks real real nice 313 00:25:24,559 --> 00:25:31,200 because the zoo is a destination is what it is. And people come here from all 314 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:35,600 over the country. And that's what we're trying to get people to come here all 315 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:39,919 over the country. Make sense? 316 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:45,279 » Okay. Uh this it's another recreation uh event that is year round. Okay. The 317 00:25:43,120 --> 00:25:50,000 tournament can happen year round. So that that that keeping does a great job 318 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:55,360 with that. But I think this is going to be really nice. But did y'all hear what 319 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:59,520 she said? She said want your input on that. So you can do that tonight on what 320 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:03,840 we can do with that. We got the community cards in there which is 321 00:26:01,279 --> 00:26:09,919 something that we can use cross country trails. Uh it could be whatever we 322 00:26:07,360 --> 00:26:13,919 wanted to be at this point and we can dream it up tonight. So look at that 323 00:26:11,679 --> 00:26:18,080 area. That's that's a really really good area. That's a that's the kind of area 324 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:23,679 that that's a vision area right there. So we want some input on that tonight to 325 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:27,440 what we do. Okay. And next 326 00:26:26,559 --> 00:26:31,200 is >> our rec center. 327 00:26:28,559 --> 00:26:36,000 » And then the recent >> those slides right there. That's the new 328 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:43,760 development that we're going to have. >> So we are I can talk a little bit. So 329 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:47,919 these this is a parishide initiative for the rec centers. Um these are some 330 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:53,200 images of of what some of those could look like over time. Right now Baker has 331 00:26:51,120 --> 00:26:56,159 the air conditioning. So throughout the parish, we have lots that don't have air 332 00:26:54,720 --> 00:27:01,200 conditioning yet. And so we're going to try to prioritize those. We're going 333 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:06,720 into each uh area of the parish to get that prioritization uh solidified. And 334 00:27:04,159 --> 00:27:12,559 then we're going to kind go each by each and implement. So luckily Baker was one 335 00:27:09,679 --> 00:27:17,720 of the first um the first of our five. So we did in 17 to 20 336 00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:26,159 that's the only other. Um, so we partner with the city of Baker 337 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:30,559 on the Baker rec center. Uh, it's actually not our property, but we 338 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:34,640 operate in January. So TAR will be the next one that we'll 339 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:37,600 look at because it doesn't matter conditioning. Um, and that's one of the 340 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:41,279 most important things that we've heard from people uh, that's most critical 341 00:27:39,679 --> 00:27:47,520 right now to be able to even use the place. So the TV would have the more 342 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:51,200 modern um, side rooms, community rooms, that sort of thing. And what we want to 343 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:54,159 hear is what else do you want that facility? 344 00:27:51,919 --> 00:27:57,799 » This is what she wants. This is what she wants. She wants 345 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:10,399 » So the one we have the one we have >> she wants. 346 00:28:06,159 --> 00:28:18,240 » She is not alone with the rec center. with that transition from Port 347 00:28:14,559 --> 00:28:21,840 the old the old side and everything and 348 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:24,799 » yeah that's what she want that's that's what they're talking about they're 349 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:32,159 talking about a brand new one in this area brand all the way and so you know 350 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:38,320 that's I mean she's right and she's absolutely right because because we all 351 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:42,399 have one we should do that so we we need to work on it that's I need to be some 352 00:28:39,919 --> 00:28:48,000 type of futuristic plan that we come in here with um and and and look at 353 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:53,440 building for that area cuz remember now when we talk there's no new race centers 354 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:56,799 in North Bros period 355 00:28:55,120 --> 00:29:04,080 not we're not talking about hard street we talking about we talking about Baker 356 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:10,320 Central Zachary no great service and that's exactly what she's talking about 357 00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:14,480 right there so we can put somewhere in that in in that plan for the future to 358 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:19,919 build it like that. Once you start building it, it's built out and that 359 00:29:17,039 --> 00:29:23,679 that that'll make us whole. That that would definitely make us whole and 360 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:27,399 that's exactly what your issues were. You 361 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:27,399 » want to close this out? 362 00:29:27,919 --> 00:29:35,200 » I can I can tell which board to go to. >> So, um as we close out, you have an 363 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:38,559 opportunity to go over survey and look at the boards and your opinions. We 364 00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:42,559 really want to hear from you. This is an important time for the community to get 365 00:29:40,559 --> 00:29:47,039 their input because this is your community and this is what we're here 366 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:51,840 for for you to get your input. So, please go over to boards and get your 367 00:29:49,039 --> 00:29:56,320 input. Talk to the guys over there and and the rest of the TV guys are there to 368 00:29:54,240 --> 00:30:00,960 answer some questions for you. We really appreciate you coming tonight. Thank you 369 00:29:58,159 --> 00:30:06,399 so much for your attendance and I hope you have a safe turn. 370 00:30:03,039 --> 00:30:10,240 » Let me turn it over to Metro Council. Um and 371 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:13,840 » Absolutely. First off, good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Um thank 372 00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:17,279 y'all for coming out to this great meeting tonight. Um I don't know who 373 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:22,640 made the point. It was Council Member Collins. Um you know me and J we having 374 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:26,320 conversations all the time. Um great is not to wait until election time to be in 375 00:30:24,799 --> 00:30:30,480 the Baker, right? And I think you know we all get that but community 376 00:30:27,919 --> 00:30:35,760 engagement, community outreach. Um as you all probably saw um we're great at 377 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:39,120 you know consideration for parks, right? You know a lot of people say why the 378 00:30:37,279 --> 00:30:46,240 community engagement on a reactionary basis but um let me say this um is 379 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:49,600 growing in a very positive. Um I know for a long time a lot of legacy 380 00:30:47,919 --> 00:30:53,919 residents that live in Baker. a lot of people be living in probably twice my 381 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:59,440 lifetime, right? Um but I think to Miss Shannon point, I know it's council K's 382 00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:04,159 point, Council Dun's point, um baby don't want crumbs. And when we ask for 383 00:31:01,919 --> 00:31:09,279 crumbs, when we don't ask for crumbs, we want the full entire shield. We have to 384 00:31:06,480 --> 00:31:12,640 be ready for that full five. It's going to make people uncomfortable 385 00:31:10,559 --> 00:31:18,080 for change. It going to make bro uncomfortable. But I do think as well is 386 00:31:15,760 --> 00:31:21,760 very much poison potential. Um, and I know that may somebody bring it up about 387 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:25,919 the state fair, right? And it's very, very early stages, very top of stages. 388 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:30,240 Um, and we want to make sure we get that community engagement for people in the 389 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:34,880 area. Um, because for us, you know, the news hit us like everybody else. And so 390 00:31:32,640 --> 00:31:39,120 for us in the city of Baker, uh, we can always be ready to say no. We have to 391 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:42,799 think smartly in what we do to make sure we can be ready for change in this 392 00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:46,799 community because we want to make sure no matter the resident you're a business 393 00:31:44,559 --> 00:31:50,080 owner in this area um everything's not always going to be a yes everything not 394 00:31:48,399 --> 00:31:54,399 going to be a no but we should be a community say you know what let's look 395 00:31:51,679 --> 00:31:57,840 at every option before we say no because I think great is now turning the corner 396 00:31:56,320 --> 00:32:03,519 to make a lot of investment into the area as we can see with the baseball 397 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:08,240 parks I know council mal about multib and I do think um going to turn to one 398 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:12,480 another, but we have to make sure we stay in day. We have a lot of people um 399 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:15,840 who need to be in these meetings who always say they don't have nothing going 400 00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:20,799 on. They don't have no progress. When I look at those nice woods over there, um 401 00:32:18,240 --> 00:32:25,760 B is making a lot of progress, right? And so we are to make sure as residents 402 00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:30,000 of Baker, as constituents of Baker's elected officials, um we are telling the 403 00:32:28,080 --> 00:32:34,000 story about what's going on in the Baker community. And we cannot wait to be 404 00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:38,000 reactionary because news was very much quick about the challenges we have, 405 00:32:36,080 --> 00:32:42,240 right? >> Quick about the challenges, but I'm glad 406 00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:46,399 today to show the progress that's on the other side because every corner of this 407 00:32:44,559 --> 00:32:50,559 parish, the same issues that we see in Baker, North Baton Rouge is at every 408 00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:54,320 corner of this parish. But we have to make sure just as much 409 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:58,399 people share the negativity of our faith, share the progress that's going 410 00:32:56,320 --> 00:33:02,159 on in our community because you have people that care. You have people very 411 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:05,440 much working. But I want to applaud Greg for even trying, right? Cuz I know 412 00:33:04,080 --> 00:33:09,519 there's been a lot of challenges prior to your leadership and pride to you all 413 00:33:07,440 --> 00:33:13,840 leadership early. But all we can do is try. All we can do is be good partners. 414 00:33:12,159 --> 00:33:17,519 But I will always and I will push to y'all progress will be very 415 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:22,799 uncomfortable when we look 20 years from now because 416 00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:27,200 people always say what you bring to make bring something new to make some 417 00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:31,600 economic activities. So you have to be very careful when that 418 00:33:29,039 --> 00:33:36,000 progress comes to the community. The community may not look the same but we 419 00:33:33,919 --> 00:33:40,399 want to advance our community. We have to burst Jack community as community 420 00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:43,600 partners because if we turn around every single thing that can push this 421 00:33:41,760 --> 00:33:48,399 community forward, Baker would never part. So we have to look towards the 422 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:52,240 future, not 30, not 20 years ago. So when I look at what Baker is doing right 423 00:33:49,919 --> 00:33:56,159 now, this is putting Baker in position 30 years from now to be a destination 424 00:33:54,720 --> 00:34:02,240 place. We have four brand new subdivisions coming to make Louisiana. 425 00:33:58,960 --> 00:34:07,919 We have received over 400 residents in the maker community from Still Water on 426 00:34:05,279 --> 00:34:11,119 Coney Drive, Tremen, what's the other one, man? 427 00:34:09,040 --> 00:34:18,000 » Sunshine. Sunshine water. They're finish up another 50 to 60 houses. So, and 428 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:22,960 » Trinity Trinity. So, is about to receive over 300 to 400 new residents to come 429 00:34:20,240 --> 00:34:27,040 into this area. And so, my challenge to you all here today as we see the 430 00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:31,040 progress, continue the engagement. We're continuing engagement. And when I tell 431 00:34:28,639 --> 00:34:35,839 people all the surveys people send out, do those surveys because the only way 432 00:34:33,839 --> 00:34:38,240 they can know how they can know engage how we can do something in this 433 00:34:36,879 --> 00:34:42,960 community if we do the community engagement surveys and praying. And so 434 00:34:40,879 --> 00:34:48,480 thank y'all so much for coming. Thank you under the end. Um but I get very 435 00:34:46,560 --> 00:34:51,599 excited I can see partners like this right because I hear all the time 436 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:55,440 there's no progress in Baker. There's nothing going on in Baker. And I tell 437 00:34:53,599 --> 00:35:00,079 you when I hear it says a bold face not be a bold face but absolutely I tell 438 00:34:58,480 --> 00:35:04,160 everybody in this room get ready for change in maker get ready for some 439 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:08,000 catalytic change in maker and we have to be community partners and say you know 440 00:35:05,760 --> 00:35:14,040 what instead of saying no let's say let's explore so thank you so much we 441 00:35:11,040 --> 00:35:14,040 all 442 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:22,800 » right he's a lot younger than me all right so 443 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:27,520 all right uh you guys let's uh we go to the boards. Don't forget to do the 444 00:35:24,960 --> 00:35:33,800 surveys. Don't forget to dream it up. Okay. Thank y'all for coming out. Y'all 445 00:35:29,839 --> 00:35:33,800 have a great night.