‘New Era’ for Later Life
Regardless of the sentiments held by those who already live on River Road, changes are coming to the road, and Lake Beau Pre’ is not the only neighborhood being built on it.
At the end of 2005, construction will begin on University Pointe, a 51-acre senior-living community that is affiliated with the University’s Alumni Association.
Sue Wininger, the community’s marketing director, said University Pointe will be run as a non-profit organization that offers senior citizens a place to live that is close to the University — but not too close.
“We didn’t want our residents to have to worry about parking their cars,” Wininger said. “But because we are only 1.4 miles south of the University, a lot of opportunities will be opened to the residents. Some plan to take classes at LSU; others intend to go to the symphonies, plays and other activities that are available on campus.”
Wininger said she expects the community to have more than 375 residents when it is completed in roughly three years.
“There will be a total of 200 independent-living units, and there will also be a villa neighborhood and some duplexes,” she said.
Wininger said the community will also be able to offer its residents specialized care if they should need it.
“University Pointe will have full-time nurses who will be able to care for our residents for as long as they may require it,” she said.
Wininger said she thinks University Pointe will be the beginning of a new era for River Road.
“River Road is not only going to be developed, it’s going to be beautifully developed,” Wininger said. “It’s going to be a great corridor of life in Baton Rouge.”
 
Environmental Exercise
In an effort to improve the health of River Road residents while offering a way to commute to work in an environmentally safe manner, the city is building a state-funded bike path that will run along the top of the levee.
The path will be about four miles long once it is finished.
“The first stage is going to be about two miles long, and we plan on finishing that part up in early summer,” said Brad Bokun, project engineer for the bike path. “In another year or so, we’ll start building the second phase, which is another two-mile segment.”
The path includes a trailhead at Skip Bertman Drive where bike riders can stop at a water fountain or have a seat on one of the benches Bokun said will be available when the first part of the trail is finished.
“This is going to be a really nice area for River Road,” Bokun said. “People will have a place to enjoy the view of the Mississippi River as they bike.”
Bokun said the project began as a way for people living on River Road to commute to work without having to worry about damaging the environment, but he doubts residents of River Road will use the trail for that purpose.
“A lot of governmental offices are moving downtown to the Capitol area,” Bokun said. “This will be a way to get to work in an environmentally safe manner, but I don’t know if many people will use it for that.”
Bokun said he thinks the bike path is an attempt to capture some of the popularity of similar paths in New Orleans.
“They have bike paths on top of the levee in New Orleans,” Bokun said. “People really like these kinds of paths because they like the view of the river, but you can’t see it unless you are on top of the levee. You used to be able to before the levees were built, but not anymore.”
 
Campus Expansion
The University is also looking to extend some of its current facilities onto River Road.
University Recreation is building its Sport and Adventure Complex, a series of three multipurpose sports fields, at the corner of River Road and Gourrier Avenue.
Michael Giles, associate director of operations for University Recreation, said the fields will be large enough to offer students the option of several activities.
“The fields are slightly larger than rugby fields, so they are large enough to hold rugby games as well as soccer, lacrosse and ultimate Frisbee games,” Giles said.
Giles said students will also be able to participate in programs designed to strengthen their abilities as teammates both on and off the field.
“We are also going to offer things like leadership training and team-building programs to student organizations,” Giles said.
Giles said the $2.2 million fields were paid for by student fees, and he expects them to be open by fall 2005.
“We’re a little delayed right now because we had some issues with the original contractor and are having to hire a new one,” Giles said.
Giles said a lot of work is going into the construction of the fields because it is going to be run “with students in mind.”
“These fields started as a cow pasture, so we had to raise and level the land by about 18 inches,” Giles said. “We are also putting in drainage, parking lots, lights and a service building because we want to offer more opportunities to the community that uses University Recreation.”
Giles said he thinks the complex will be a great way to improve the University’s recreation.
“Once we get the information out about where it is located, we feel we will be offering better service to the students because our outdoor equipment will all be in one, centrally located place,” Giles said.
Giles said he does not think that having the facility on River Road will bother students.
“The people who use the sport and adventure facet of University Recreation are used to traveling a little to get to our facilities,” Giles said. “River Road is not that far away. It’s a lot closer than it was years ago, anyway.”