Highland Road Park

One hundred forty-four point four acres of rolling hills south of LSU offer the kind of municipal park infrastructure that makes people who grew up here realize not every city does this. Baseball diamonds, tennis courts, a splash pad, a disc golf course, a boat launch to Bayou Fountain and Bayou Manchac, rugby and soccer fields, an indoor gymnasium, and a walking path — all owned and operated by BREC, the Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, which runs 186 parks covering more than 5,300 acres. Entry is free. Open daily. The LSU Tigers and Lady Tigers cross country teams run their home course here. LHSAA cross country races are held on the same ground. The Highland Park Tennis Association, founded in 1976, hosts round robin events every Saturday morning that draw an average of 75 players of all levels for doubles tennis. The Baton Rouge Rugby Football Club field sits in the northern section next to the recreation center, which offers rooms for events. The Highland Road Park Observatory stands on the south side of the park, sponsored by BREC, the LSU Department of Physics and Astronomy, and the Baton Rouge Astronomical Society. Public viewing nights are scheduled — check the Baton Rouge Astronomical Society website for dates. The telescope and the Saturday tennis games both draw locals who keep returning, but the viewing nights are the draw if you're passing through once.