Scotlandville

Eight miles north of Baton Rouge, you’ll find a small community rich in culture, pride and recreational options. Scotlandville began as an independent rural village and grew to become the largest majority Black community in Louisiana before it was annexed into Baton Rouge in the early 20th century. This revitalizing area is full of investment and starter homes and is adjacent to Southern University. As such, it's in a perfect position for students looking for housing, as well as for homeowners seeking out more affordable prices compared to the rest of Baton Rouge. Denese Sanders, a local Realtor with CeeGee Realty LLC, stresses the importance of Southern University's presence nearby, and she adds Scotlandville is "bordered by Glen Oaks and can run up to the town of Baker.”

When perusing the houses of Scotlandville, you’ll notice the mix of traditional and midcentury styles that populate the area. Amid tree-lined streets, split-level houses sit side by side with cottages and bungalows. There are also French Provincial homes, and the most popular building material here is brick, although wood is a close second. Homes tend to have well-kept lawns and are found on lots of varying sizes. Prices in the area range from $50,000 for an investment residence up to $250,000 for well-maintained, established housing.

One thing Scotlandville has in abundance is green space. Both in and around the neighborhood, parks dot the landscape. One of the largest parks in Scotlandville is Scotlandville Parkway. The green space occupies 110 acres and is three miles long. It contains many walking and biking trails which total over 8 miles, including the Scotlandville Heart Trail, a 2.5-mile path taking you through the neighborhood with hundreds of heart-shaped art pieces along the way. The park was designated a National Recreational Trail in the 1980s, less than 10 years after it opened. Today, you’ll find a lighted ball field, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, a disc golf course and a playground.

Located in Greenwood Community Park, the Baton Rouge Zoo has been delighting visitors for over 50 years. The zoo connects people with the natural world through education, entertainment, and conservation efforts, and it's the number one family attraction in the city. Not only is the zoo active in conservation programs, but it also participates in 30 international Species Survival Plans, several of which have been successful enough to release certain species back into the wild. Through educational outreach, thousands of school children are taught about different endangered species in day camps, reading programs, weekend classes and live animal encounters. Touring the zoo, you’ll find speckled bears, tigers, elk, hippopotamuses, a Galapagos tortoise and more.

Greenwood Community Park as a whole is one of the largest in Baton Rouge. At almost 400 acres, it offers plenty of room to kick back on the grass for a picnic or have kite races with the kids. The park contains not only the zoo, but also a tennis center and golf course. In addition, this green space has a lake with a boat launch and rentals. There’s a disc golf course, dog park, and playground as well as an outdoor fitness station, recreation center, and splash pad.

The Greenwood Community Park Tennis Center offers guests lighted courts, camps and tournaments, and youth and adult programs. Meanwhile, the Dumas Memorial Golf Course takes patrons on an 18-hole journey through a 1960s-inspired course that focuses on shot-making. Opened in 1963 with just nine holes, the course expanded to 18 only a few years later. The course is 15 miles north of downtown and only five minutes from the airport.

Speaking of which, Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport was established in 1939 to replace the small downtown airport. The new airfield was leased to the government in 1940 as World War II raged in Europe. Not until 1948 did the airport open to the public for commercial use. Since then, it has grown significantly, and today it serves hundreds of thousands of travelers each year. Carriers like United, Delta, and American connect travelers to numerous larger hub cities.

Scotlandville is served by the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, although children here can attend public, private, or parochial schools. Two local public options are Scotlandville Pre-Engineering Magnet Academy and Scotlandville Magnet High School. The first is a merit school of distinction and a Magnet School of America National Certified School. The second prepares students for careers or for college by working with them to select a personalized curriculum.

Written By

K.T. Phillips

Photography Contributed By

Greg Riegler

Video By

Samantha Houtchens