Baker

Louisiana's French heritage might lead you to associate the name Baker with European breadmaking traditions, but in reality, this suburb of Baton Rouge gets its name simply from a local settler with the last name Baker. Not unlike the aroma of fresh baked goods, Baker is warm and welcoming. This applies to families, retirees and anyone else valuing the quiet and seclusion that comes with living outside the city setting. “Baker used to be called America’s Hometown. Today, it’s a good community with houses going up in value. It’s also close to great school districts,” says local Realtor Suzi Gautreaux, with The Gautreaux Group.

Homes in the Baker area are “older traditional houses, but there are some new subdivisions, so there is some growth too,” says Mrs. Gautreaux. Housing styles here range from contemporary cottages to apartment complexes. There are numerous Acadian-style homes, cottages, ranch-styles, and bungalows. The lawns are well kept and range in size from very small to several acres large. This progressive city has lots of wooded areas, shopping centers and green spaces among the rows of houses. Prices range from $115,000 for older homes to $650,000 for newer contemporary styles.

Baker has numerous parks and playgrounds, and Greenwood Community Park is one of the largest in the Greater Baton Rouge area. At 390 acres, the park has plenty of room for games of catch, kite flying, or a few cartwheels. There’s a lake near the center of the park, and the waterfront has a café, pro shop, plus kayak/canoe rentals and launches. There are also two golf courses, a dog park, a disc golf course and an outdoor fitness station. Strolling through the area is made easier with multiple nature trails and a walking loop. Further, Greenwood Community Park is home to a tennis center with lighted courts. The center teaches youth and adult programs, as well as pickleball clinics and camps.

The park also has the J.S. Clark and Dumas Memorial Golf Courses. The J.S. Clark course covers 36 acres and has nine holes. The course is open to players of all ages and skill levels and features a PGA-style practice area. Among the Tif Dwarf greens, there are three sets of tee boxes for players of differing experience levels, and the course is perfect for walking or carts. The entire nine holes can be played in two hours, making it an ideal getaway after work.

The Dumas Memorial Golf Course has a full 18 holes and a 1960s design. The mix of long and short holes tests players' precision and power. Opened in 1963, the courses are overseen by BREC, which connects residents of East Baton Rouge Parish with their local parks and the outdoors.

Nearby, the BREC Baton Rouge Zoo was founded in 1965 when taxpayers voted to fund the project. It opened on Easter Sunday 1970, and the citizens of East Baton Rouge feel a sense of ownership and pride in the zoo they helped to build. The zoo connects visitors with wildlife through education, engagement, and more than 30 conservation efforts. It conducts active research and in-house educational programs and workshops such as reading programs, day camps, weekend classes, and live animal encounters. For more than 50 years, the zoo has been the No. 1 year-round family attraction in Baton Rouge.

Served by the City of Baker School System, the area has public and charter schools, like Baker Middle and High Schools, as well as Advantage Charter Academy.

Established in 1812, the city of Baker has multiple major roadways running through and around it, making it incredibly convenient to Baton Rouge and the nearby town of Zachary. One of the original stops on the Mississippi Valley Railroad, Baker maintains its small-town feel while remaining close to the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, several shopping centers and green spaces.

Written By

Hannah Rainey

Photography Contributed By

Andrew Williams

Video By

David Strayer