Downtown Breakdown: "The Vision"
Mark your calendars for the second PlanBR III community meeting happening on Wednesday, July 16th, from 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. at the Old State Capitol! Registration is requested, but not required. To register, click here.
If you missed the first PlanBR III blog outlining why both Plan Baton Rouge I and II were so successful you can find it here.
DOWNTOWN BREAKDOWN: "THE VISION"
We all know that a plan is only as strong as the input it receives from the community. The response to our first meeting in April was incredible—over 200 attendees and more than 1,000 survey responses online! Meeting #2 is just as critical. This is your chance to see how the design team has interpreted your feedback and to weigh in on whether they got it right. It’s the moment when the early vision starts to take shape, excitement begins to build, and we move closer to a plan that truly reflects our community’s hopes for the future.
Attendees at the PBR III first community meeting at LASM
But WHY is it so important that we get the vision right; because a clear and inspiring vision is the cornerstone of any successful community master plan. It acts as a guiding light—uniting residents, businesses, elected officials, and stakeholders around a shared future and aligning everyday decisions with long-term goals. A compelling vision captures a community’s values, aspirations, and unique identity, setting the tone for everything from infrastructure investments to retail recruitment. When done well, it builds momentum, inspires action, and turns possibility into progress.
Reflecting on the achievements of previous master plans, it’s easy to feel inspired by the transformative potential of PlanBR III.
Plan BRI, the original master plan, laid the groundwork for major milestones like the consolidation of the State Capitol complex, the development of the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center, and the creation of the Shaw Center for the Arts. As Mark Drennan, then Commissioner of Administration for the State of Louisiana, recalled, the planning process actively sought community input on how to support the thousands of employees brought downtown through consolidation. That feedback directly shaped key features we enjoy today, such as the YMCA integrated into the ground floor of a state parking garage and vendor spaces in the Main Street Market—showing the real, lasting impact of public ideas turned into action.
Downtown YMCA
PlanBR II ushered in a new era of connectivity and livability for Downtown Baton Rouge. It brought to life transformative projects like the Downtown Greenway and Central Green, while also spurring a significant rise in residential development across both the Central Business District and Downtown East. What was once a landscape of concrete and fragmentation has evolved into a vibrant, green network of public space. Central Green now serves as a beloved hub for large community gatherings, and the 1.75-mile Downtown Greenway provides a safe, scenic corridor for cyclists and pedestrians—linking Downtown to Mid-City via the Government Street bike lanes and extending to the 13.1-mile Mississippi Riverfront Levee Trail.
Downtown Greenway
Looking at the map where PlanBRIII meeting #1 attendees identified downtown’s strengths and weaknesses, the implemented recommendations from the previous plans definitely stand out as “strengths.”
"Strengths and weaknesses" map displayed at the first PBR III community meeting.
So how can we make sure PlanBRIII is as impactful as both PlanBR I and II?...
A strong community vision is built by those who show up, speak out, and help shape the future. Our predecessors laid the foundation—we now have the opportunity to rise to the moment and build upon their legacy. This upcoming meeting is your chance to help define what comes next for our city. By participating, you’re not just witnessing the process—you’re helping lead it. Your voice matters, and with your input, we can create a future that is truly reflective of who we are and where we aspire to go.
