Board approves demolition authorization for vacant Eden Park Elementary property

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board voted on May 15 to authorize staff to advertise for bids, accept the lowest responsive bid and award a contract to demolish the long‑vacant Eden Park Elementary property.

The demolition item was on the consent agenda; the motion carried after a board member read a statement from District 3 Representative Carla Powell Lewis, who could not attend because of illness. In the statement Lewis said the property “has become a safety concern and does not reflect the vision we hold for North Baton Rouge” and urged repurposing the site for walking trails or youth practice fields.

Why it matters: the board described the vacant school as blighted and a public‑safety concern. The consent language authorizes staff to advertise, receive bids and award a contract under the Louisiana Public Bid Law. Funding details for demolition were not specified in the discussion on the record.

Board process and public record: Lewis’s written comments were read into the meeting record and entered as the board’s official stance from her office in support of demolition. The item moved as part of the consent agenda; the secretary called the vote and the motion carried.

Next steps: staff are authorized to proceed with bidding under the public‑procurement rules. Lewis suggested community reuse options including youth fields and walking trails; the board did not set a final reuse plan during the meeting.