BREC Seeks $22.4M for Brooks Park Aquatic Center

The Baton Rouge recreation district is asking the state to fund a $28 million indoor pool and recreation center to replace an aging park pool.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in National Parks

Weathered outdoor concrete swimming pool beside a mid-century brick bathhouse under live oaks, with a construction staging area in the background. — The Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission has asked the state for $22.4 million to build a $28 million indoor pool and recreation center at Brooks Park, replacing its aging 1949 outdoor pool. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should the state fund a new $28 million recreation center in Baton Rouge?

The Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission (BREC) has requested $22.4 million in state funding for a new recreation and aquatic center at Brooks Park. The proposed $28 million project would replace the park's outdated pool with BREC's first indoor swimming pool.

Why it matters

The project would allow aquatic programming to continue beyond the summer season and add multipurpose rooms for community programs, meetings, and media and technology education. BREC expects the investment to improve life in the surrounding Old South Baton Rouge neighborhood.

The $22.4 million state request is paired with $5.6 million in BREC capital improvement funds to cover the $28 million total. Whether the state will approve the request has not been reported.

The players

Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission (BREC)

BREC is the public agency that operates parks, recreation facilities, and programs across Baton Rouge, and it is the applicant seeking the state funding for the Brooks Park project.

The details

The existing Brooks Park pool, which opened in 1949 and was donated to BREC in 1953, is outdated. The proposed indoor pool would support youth camps, competitive training, and lifeguard certification.

1949: The Brooks Park pool opened with surrounding property.
1953: The pool was donated to BREC.
November 9, 2026: BREC's state funding request was reported.

Season Trajectory

The proposal replaces a pool that has operated since 1949 and was donated to BREC in 1953 with an indoor facility, the agency's first. This shift moves BREC's aquatic offerings from a seasonal outdoor model toward year-round programming.

Residents who use Brooks Park may see changes to pool access if the project is funded, since the outdoor pool would be replaced by an indoor facility. The source does not indicate when any replacement would open.

The takeaway

Public recreation projects often depend on state funding requests that are approved over time, so residents interested in Brooks Park's future can watch for updates on the $22.4 million request. Staying informed about budget decisions helps show how local facilities are prioritized.