First, do no urban harm

Hospitals and clinics in the Essen-Bluebonnet area long sat in a disconnected sprawl of roads, parking lots and fast-moving traffic. Over time, almost quietly, pieces of green space and safer walking routes began to appear.

Why it matters: An area devoted to health was built mostly for cars. That never made much sense for patients, families or the thousands of people who work at Ochsner, Our Lady of the Lake, LSU Health, Pennington Biomedical, Baton Rouge Clinic and the other institutions clustered there.

What’s happening: This year, the changes should become more visible. The Baton Rouge Health District is starting a three-year makeover of five major vehicle gateways into the district.

The details: The Health District, a nonprofit that brings healthcare institutions together around shared goals, has secured $3.4 million for gateway improvements. The work is meant to better define the district, guide drivers and pedestrians, and add more greenery at key entry points. Design is underway now. Construction is expected to begin later this year and wrap up in 2028.

What it will look like: Essen at Perkins offers a good example, says Health District President Steven Ceulemans. Today, it is a hard-edged intersection, with fast-turn lanes, concrete berms and little sense that people are meant to move through it on foot. The redesign will add landscaping, pedestrian features and crosswalks.

The bigger picture: The district has also become a place where institutions collaborate when they can, including on workforce training and now on physical improvements that make the area more connected.

Bottom line: A part of Baton Rouge that did not match the idea of wellness is being reshaped into something more humane: safer traffic, better walking, more shade and greenery, and a district that feels more like a place for people than a concrete maze.