Mayor President Kip Holden, joined by the Downtown Development District (DDD), announced at the December 8th commission meeting that it will receive $1.9 million in state DOTD transportation enhancement funds for the proposed new North Boulevard Town Square. This funding is in addition to the previously approved $4.5 million by the City for the square in surplus funds in 2008.
The transportation enhancement funds will be used for pedestrian amenities, streetscape amenities and other landscape and beautification improvements within the Town Square on North Boulevard near the Old State Capitol and River Center Library.

The Town Square is a multi-million dollar development that will transform the currently disjointed area into a center where the city's cultural and civic amenities come together for all to use and enjoy. It is a project recommended by the Riverfront Master Plan.

Downtown Development Director Davis Rhorer said the Town Square is integral for the pedestrian, as it is the crossroads of the cultural epicenter of downtown Baton Rouge. The space will be transformed into a pedestrian friendly zone that lends itself to the community environment that the name "Town Square" implies. We are extremely grateful to the State DOTD for these funds in addition to the leadership of Mayor Holden and the Metropolitan Council for their commitment and funding on this project.

The competitive grant application for the DOTD enhancement funds was prepared by the DDD office in coordination with the City. Rhorer acknowledged Jake Holinga and James Andermann of the DDD office, for their work on the application in the meeting.

Construction on the Town Square is anticipated to begin in 2010, shortly after the new District courthouse is completed next year. When the Town Square is complete, it will be the social and cultural hub of the downtown area, serving as the focal point for programming including festivals and live music concerts. The landscape architecture design team for the Town Square is a joint venture of Brown + Danos landDESIGN and Joseph Furr Design Studio. Both firms are located in downtown Baton Rouge along with most of their sub-consultants.

North Boulevard Town Square, bound by River Road on the West, Fifth Street on the East, and building facades on the North and South of the boulevard, is envisioned as the social and cultural heart of Baton Rouge. 
Town Square is comprised of three areas.  The West Promenade is a tree lined pedestrian corridor along the widened walkway in front of the Old State Capitol leading from River Road to The Square.  The East Promenade is a pedestrian corridor under the mature live oak trees leading to Fourth Street Plaza and Hebe Plaza.  The Square is the focus of activity with the Town Lawn, Live Oak Plaza, and Beacon Plaza notable for a 35-foot high multi-media tower located at the Third Street/RiverCenter axis and clad with programmable digital media panels showing upcoming Baton Rouge events, transit and weather information, local news, and televised events.  All three spaces will include a sound system and WiFi for outdoor internet access.  

Reconfigured streets, including North Boulevard, St. Louis Street, and St. Ferdinand Street, provide almost an entire acre of extra public space for pedestrians in Town Square.  Intersections are designed as smooth, curbless environments that enable safe and easy movement by the elderly, disabled, very young, and large crowds.  Water features around The Beacon and along the Town Lawn cool the spaces during the day, while bands of light in the pavement and grids of lights in overhead cables softly light the spaces at night.  The Beacon, made of glass panels, will glow at night and, for very special events, will emit a beam of light into the sky to signify activity. Café seating, as well as benches and game tables, are provided in plaza areas.
 
The Town Lawn will be used for relaxation, games, and to view movies and other showings projected from The Beacon across the length of the lawn to the Pavilion at Fourth Street.  Many other smaller spaces create opportunities for spontaneous meetings and gatherings, as well as individual reflection, lunch, and internet activities. 

Whether gathered together for a large parish-wide event or stopping to relax in the middle of a hectic day, citizens of Baton Rouge will have an amazing place to be – North Boulevard Town Square, the Heart of Baton Rouge.

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North Boulevard Town Square Video