Reimagining Ben Johnson Baseball Park & the MLK Recreation Area

In 2022, the City was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant to help reimagine and redesign a lightly used baseball field and surrounding space near the MLK Recreation Center. This grant allowed the City to think creatively and intentionally about how this area could better serve the people who live nearby—and the broader Natchitoches community.

What emerged is a bold vision to transform this underutilized site into a vibrant, multi-purpose community destination. If fully funded, the redesigned space will move beyond a single-use field and become a hub for recreation, creativity, and connection.

The proposed plan includes:

Improved parking and site access

A skate park designed for youth and young adults

Pickleball courts for recreation and active living

Flexible buildings for community use, programming, and gatherings

Open spaces that encourage safe play, wellness, and neighborhood engagement

This reimagined park is designed to be inclusive, accessible, and impactful—meeting people where they are and offering something for every generation. It reflects a commitment to reinvesting in neighborhoods, expanding recreational opportunities, and creating places where community life can thrive.

This page will serve as a central location for project updates, visuals, and next steps as funding opportunities are pursued and plans continue to develop. We encourage you to check back often and follow along as this vision takes shape.