As the debate continues over where the BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo should be located, the ideas keep pouring in.
“One sent to me was to raze part of Cortana Mall and build it there. Another idea proposed to me by a diner in a local restaurant (a successful businessman and native of Baton Rouge) was to return the zoo to City Park and tie it into the redevelopment plan of the lakes,” writes Business Report Publisher Rolfe McCollister in his latest column. “He told me that is where he went to the zoo when he was growing up—and it is right in the heart of the city. He was excited and proclaimed it could be fabulous.”
McCollister—who has long championed for the golf course at City Park to be shuttered and transformed into a community park—likes the latter idea. And it got him thinking about the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, which is nestled in a residential area near the Garden District between St. Charles Avenue and the river.
“The zoo covers 58 acres. It is near Tulane and Loyola University. Our City Park is a beautiful site with hills and trees sitting on the lakes near the Garden District and LSU,” he writes. “City Park has the Baton Rouge Gallery and the new Knock Knock Museum opening soon. The golf course site covers 25 acres and could host a very attractive and affordable zoo—on the site where the zoo used to be—with accessibility and visibility from the interstate.”
Now, McColister says, we just need BREC to consider the site for the “highest and best use” with the elimination of the “pitiful” 9-hole golf course. “It is a money loser and of poor quality,” he writes. “Webb Park, an 18-hole course, is less than 5 minutes away and could easily handle the additional golfers.”
McCollister points to a recent Business Report cover story on BREC and the zoo, which noted attendance at BREC golf courses decreased 16% from 2011 to 2016 while expenses rose 12% and revenues declined by the same amount over the same period.
“As I have pointed out here before, Austin, Texas, with a metro population of 2 million people has six public golf courses. Baton Rouge, with 830,000 people, had, until the recent closure of Howell Golf Course, seven public courses,” McCollister writes. “Based on population alone, compared to Austin, we should have 2.5 golf courses. So losing nine holes has little impact on availability. It makes sense. It takes courage. It should be done. It’s time.”
But a big question remains: Can we think differently about the issue and potential solutions?
“That’s always been the problem in Baton Rouge, few like change,” he writes. “The status quo crowd—who are sometimes small but loud—want to keep it ‘the way it’s always been before.’ And Baton Rouge misses out on a great opportunity. Here is one knocking … what will BREC do? And what will you do?”
If we can’t agree on the site and don’t want to spend $110 million, then McCollister suggests we create “the first virtual reality zoo.”
“We sell concessions, use IMAX high-definition screens and you take a stroll. Or, sit in a recliner and put on Oculus Rift with glasses and imagine you are in the natural habitat of the animals going from the jungle to the glaciers,” he writes. “It will be air-conditioned so no one sweats, there are no cages to clean or tigers to feed—and the animals live forever. Why not?”
Also in his new column, McCollister praises District Judge William Morvant’s recent decision to toss out “the absurd and political” lawsuit trying to remove State Superintendent of Education John White from office.
“Prior to the judge’s ruling, two different national organizations praised Louisiana’s education improvement efforts (our policy for following the federal Every Student Succeeds Act) led by White and BESE, with the input of many,” he notes. “The Alliance for Excellent Education described it as ‘one of the most promising in the United States.’ And the Collaborative for Student Success noted its strong vision and high expectation for results. The report also said that it would ensure stakeholders ‘will have a clear understanding of how schools are serving all children.’”
McCollister says he hopes Gov. John Bel Edwards and the legislators will read the reports and “offer their congratulations to White, BESE and all who worked hard on ESSA for a job well done—and the positive praise for our state.”
McCollister also notes Business Report is approaching its 35th anniversary and announces plans for a special issue to mark the occasion later this year.
“The journey for our business community over more than three decades has been eventful. We will celebrate the journey and reflect on the stories on September 12 with a special commemorative 35th anniversary issue for you, our readers,” he writes. “We are enjoying the journey and greatly appreciate the support from our readers, advertisers and community as we strive to make an impact every day.”
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