Thousands of community voices used to shape visionary plan for downtown.
Baton Rouge, La. — A new chapter in the evolution of downtown Baton Rouge begins today with the release of Plan Baton Rouge III, a comprehensive master plan that outlines a bold, actionable vision to transform the city’s core into a thriving center for culture, commerce, and community.
Commissioned by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation in partnership with a broad coalition of civic, business, and community leaders, Plan Baton Rouge III builds on more than 25 years of progress and sets a clear path for the next decade and beyond.
The plan focuses on reconnecting downtown to the Mississippi River, expanding housing and economic opportunity, strengthening neighborhood life, and improving mobility and access. With more than $1.5 billion in early investments envisioned, the plan aims to triple the downtown residential population, create 10,000 jobs, and position downtown as the region’s premier destination for residents and visitors alike.
“Plan Baton Rouge III represents the next generation of our city’s commitment to a strong and vibrant downtown,” said Chris Meyer, President and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. “This plan is grounded in community input and shaped by a clear understanding of today’s opportunities and challenges. It gives us a realistic, actionable roadmap to grow our economy, celebrate our culture, and create a downtown that works for everyone.”
Developed through an extensive year-long process that included thousands of survey responses, public meetings, and stakeholder interviews, the plan reflects a shared vision shaped by residents, business owners, institutions, and civic leaders.
At its core, Plan Baton Rouge III is guided by five key principles:
- Activating the riverfront as a “front porch” for the city;
- Diversifying the downtown economy;
- Creating walkable neighborhood centers;
- Connecting cultural and civic assets; and
- Improving transportation and accessibility.
Key recommendations include the development of a signature riverfront park and entertainment district, expansion of housing options across income levels, creation of a downtown transit network, and investment in greenways, pedestrian corridors, and cultural destinations. The plan also emphasizes adaptive reuse of historic buildings, support for small businesses, and year-round programming to activate public spaces.
Implementation will be phased over time, with early projects designed to build momentum and unlock additional investment, followed by longer-term initiatives that expand and sustain growth.
“Downtown Baton Rouge has incredible assets—from its riverfront to its history to its people—and this plan shows how we can bring those strengths together in a powerful way,” said Mike Wampold, Co-Chair of the Plan Baton Rouge III planning committee and founder and CEO of Wampold Companies. “What makes this plan different is that it’s not just visionary—it’s implementable. It gives us the tools and the strategy to move from ideas to action.”
Plan Baton Rouge III continues the legacy of earlier downtown plans, which together have driven more than $3 billion in public and private investment and resulted in many of the civic and cultural amenities enjoyed today. With this new plan, Baton Rouge can build on that success and ensure downtown remains a cornerstone of the region’s future.
“Plan Baton Rouge III focuses on reconnecting the community to the riverfront while continuing the evolution of downtown into a more vibrant mixed-use district with additional residents, businesses, and amenities. Like many peer cities that have successfully leveraged their waterfronts to drive growth and investment, we have an opportunity to invest in quality-of-life improvements that attract businesses, retain talent, and generate long-term economic benefits for the entire region,” said Whitney Hoffman Sayal, Executive Director of the Downtown Development District.
To learn more about Plan Baton Rouge III and view the full report, click here or view the embedded document below.