BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Progress is underway on the new 25,000-square-foot Inspiration Center at Howell Park — one of Baton Rouge’s oldest and most historic parks.

Clay Young, the project’s developer, said he first envisioned a small building with services for children and families. But after touring similar facilities in Atlanta and Minnesota, the plan grew into what is now a $10 million project — the largest of its kind in Louisiana.

“I wanted a building that would offer services and amenities to kids and families,” Young said. “It was a very small vision to start, and then we learned that the concept exists in other cities.”

The center will include after-school programming focused on academics, mentorship, and job readiness. Plans also call for a basketball gym, a record

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