Merrydale

The expansive unincorporated community of Merrydale epitomizes why Louisiana has earned the nickname Sportsman’s Paradise. There's so much natural beauty to explore, with parks, conservation areas and other copious opportunities for outdoor recreation. Still, it's only 8 miles from Baton Rouge’s busy urban center, and it sits in the center of East Baton Rouge Parish, offering quick commutes via Airline Highway.

Homes in the community are overwhelmingly traditional, but there’s plenty of personalization to give character to the residences. Situated in well-shaded areas, houses are never far from Louisiana’s natural resources, such as the Comite River. Wandering through the area you’ll find cottages as well as mansions along the streets. There are also mid-century and ranch style homes. Sidewalks can be found in the neighborhood’s subdivisions and planned communities. Prices in Merrydale range from $80,000 for a fixer-upper or investment property up to $300,000 for new custom-builds.

Merrydale may seem like Baton Rouge’s backyard, but it’s much more than that. Offering hunting, fishing, and trapping options for sportsmen, the area also acts as a conservation base for the area anchored by two large preserves on its east side. Conservation efforts in South Louisiana are especially important as wetlands and forests help slow storm surges and hurricane-force winds. Learning about these things is a pleasure and not a chore at Waddill Wildlife Refuge.

Occupying 237 acres along the Comite River, the conservation area gives teachers and students of any grade level the chance to experience the natural world. Designed as an outdoor classroom, the site has an indoor one with a ceiling projector too. In addition, the park helps teach potential hunters and sportsmen the essentials of using firearms and archery equipment safely. Both an air rifle and archery range are open to the public here, and hunters are welcome to have target practice as well. The area isn’t short on serenity either as the grounds stretch from a sandbar on the river to a cypress/tupelo swamp in the northeast corner.

A second, smaller preserve is nearby. The Blackwater Conservation Area is only 57 acres, but it provides a mighty impact on those seeking a quiet spot for reflection or those wanting an afternoon casting about for channel catfish, bluegills, or largemouth bass. Opened just over 20 years ago, this naturalized park is one of Baton Rouge’s most renowned conservation areas. Its two large fishing lakes and multiple nature trails wouldn’t exist without the Army Corps of Engineers suggesting the city make a designated drainage site into an ecosystem restoration project. The city accepted and the rest is history.

In addition to preservation and sporting, Merrydale offers recreation in the form of multiple green spaces throughout the neighborhood. Maplewood Drive and Dover Street Parks are just two spaces in the community for children to play freely on a playground, multi-use ball field, or basketball court. Maplewood Drive Park covers 11 acres and includes a recreation center and tennis courts while Dover Street Park is four acres and has an outdoor fitness station.

If all that exploring has made you hungry, Jerry Lee’s Cajun Foods is waiting to quiet your stomach’s rumbling. As one of 10 siblings, it’s no wonder owner Jerry Lee Duplantis had the importance of family impressed on him at an early age. Taking the lesson to heart, in 1978 he turned a convenience store into an eatery and made the whole endeavor a family affair. Over 40 years later he’s still operating out of the same spot, making his famous boudin sausage, a Cajun specialty. The restaurant makes 600 to 1000 pounds of boudin each day to keep up with demand. The shop also makes several other varieties of sausage as well as cracklin’s and beef jerky.

Students in the area have plenty of options when it comes to picking the right school. Glen Oaks Park Elementary teaches prekindergarten through fifth grade in a community of excellence. In addition to having one-to-one devices for every child, the school offers an after-school STEM program called Whizkids as well as a STEM laboratory. Forest Heights Academy of Excellence is a two-time winner as a National Blue Ribbon School. This visual and performing arts facility provides for the needs of the entire child instead of only focusing on academics. Glen Oaks Magnet High School has a medical magnet program for those wishing to pursue STEM careers after graduating from this college preparatory academy.

Close to the airport and Baton Rouge’s Zoo, the Merrydale neighborhood is a tranquil haven for those who prefer views of stately forests instead of jungles of concrete.

Written By

K.T. Phillips

Photography Contributed By

Andrew Williams

Video By

Mark Barakat