Highland Road Community Park

Highland Road Community Park, also known as Highland Road Park, is a sprawling 144.4-acre public park located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Owned and operated by BREC (the Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge), this urban park serves as a recreational hub for the community and is open year-round. It is situated in the southeastern part of East Baton Rouge Parish, catering to a wide geographic area and designed to engage individuals and families alike for extended visits.

The park’s varied landscape, which includes rolling hills, open fields, and forested areas, offers an appealing environment for outdoor enthusiasts. A notable feature of the park is the Highland Road Park Observatory, a collaborative effort between BREC, Louisiana State University (LSU), and the Baton Rouge Astronomical Society. The observatory is equipped with a 20-inch reflecting telescope and regularly hosts astronomy programs, making it a popular educational attraction.

As a center for sports and recreation, the park houses facilities for tennis, soccer, rugby, and disc golf. The tennis center boasts 17 hard courts and six pickleball courts, while the disc golf course meanders through the park’s scenic hills and oak trees. Baseball and tee-ball fields further add to the sports offerings. Highland Road Community Park is also a prominent location for cross-country running and serves as the home course for LSU Tigers and Lady Tigers cross-country teams. Several high school cross-country events are held here as well.

Families can enjoy a range of amenities, including an indoor recreation center with a gymnasium, a children’s playground, a splash pad, and picnic pavilions. For those who enjoy quieter, nature-based activities, the park offers walking paths, primitive nature trails, and a boat launch that provides access to Bayou Fountain and Bayou Manchac for kayaking and canoeing. Bird watchers are drawn to the park as well for its diverse bird population, with over 150 recorded species.

Highland Road Community Park is a versatile destination that merges sports, education, and leisure into a single, beautifully maintained locale. Whether one seeks active recreation or peaceful immersion in nature, the park accommodates a broad spectrum of interests.