Is Howell Park safe?
Baton Rouge, Louisiana · safety score updated nightly
Not recommended for casual walking around, especially after dark.
VibeLoco rates Howell Park as “No-go after dark”.
What makes up this score?Recent news
Gogo's take on Howell Park
“Go with care during daylight hours if visiting specific amenities like the community park, but exercise heightened caution. The neighborhood struggles with elevated rates of violent and property crime compared to national benchmarks. Visitors should avoid walking after dark and remain aware of their surroundings at all times.”
About the area
Howell Park is an established, predominantly working-class residential neighborhood in north Baton Rouge centered around its large BREC community park. It features mid-century modest ranch-style homes alongside visible areas of socioeconomic distress and vacancy.
- Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Park-Adjacent
- Working-Class
Walking and biking in Howell Park
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 42/100
Dedicated bike infrastructure is sparse with limited painted bike lanes; there are no docked bike-share stations or direct connections to major off-road greenway trails in the immediate neighborhood.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- BREC's Howell Community Park offers extensive public recreational amenities including a swimming pool and sports fields
- Close proximity and straightforward driving access to Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport and major industrial corridors
- Strong, long-standing neighborhood ties among multi-generational resident homeowners
Cons
- Violent and property crime rates in the surrounding zip code (70805) are substantially higher than state and national averages
- High local poverty rate and household median income well below the Baton Rouge metro median
- Elevated residential vacancy with pockets of blighted properties and deferred home maintenance
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately present along primary commercial arteries like Plank Road, though widespread encampments inside the residential interior of Howell Park are uncommon.
What Howell Park is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Relatively quiet with regular neighborhood movement, school transit, and park maintenance, feeling generally safe for driving and outdoor exercise.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Activity increases around commercial corridors and the community park; standard situational awareness is advised.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Pedestrian activity diminishes quickly at dusk; caution is advised, particularly around less illuminated residential blocks.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets are largely deserted with an elevated risk for property theft and violent crime; walking after dark is strongly discouraged.
Transit, parking and getting around
Capital Area Transit System (CATS) serves the neighborhood via local bus routes along Plank Road and Winbourne Avenue. Baton Rouge does not have a passenger rail or BRT system.
Parking is readily available and free, consisting of dedicated surface lots at Howell Community Park and abundant curbside residential street parking without meters.
Things to do in Howell Park
- Enjoy the outdoor recreation, walking paths, and sports courts at BREC Howell Community Park
- Visit the nearby Baton Rouge Zoo located a short drive north in Greenwood Community Park
- Play a round of golf at nearby City of Baton Rouge public courses such as J.S. Clark or City Park Golf Course
Local favorites
- Chicken Shack · Southern / Fried Chicken Restaurant · 4.1★ (1150)Historic Baton Rouge soul food landmark nearby famous for wet-batter fried chicken and southern sides.
- Tony's Seafood Market & Deli · Seafood Market & Deli · 4.6★ (7800)Renowned regional institution located nearby offering hot boiled crawfish, fresh seafood, and Louisiana boudin.
- Dempsey's Poboys · Cajun / Creole Restaurant · 4.4★ (850)Casual neighborhood staple serving classic overstuffed po'boys, gumbo, and fried seafood platters.
Neighborhoods near Howell Park
Common questions about Howell Park
Is Howell Park safe to walk at night?
We don't recommend walking around casually after dark here; take a ride instead.
Is Howell Park a good place to live?
On safety, Howell Park scores 44/100 — among the lowest we score, so look closely at specific blocks before deciding to move.
How walkable is Howell Park?
Walk score 38/100 and bike score 42/100. Most trips need a car.
Which areas near Howell Park are safer?
Timberwood Place (75), Goodwood Homesites (68), Lynn Place (58) score higher nearby.
Add this score to your site
Writing about Howell Park? Copy this code to show its live safety score on your blog or listing.