Springlake/University Terrace - Shreveport, LA

Formerly clogged by 180 miles of silt and debris, Captain Henry Shreve and his team of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cleared the Red River refuse in the 1830s. This made the river navigable for commercial shippers. In 1967 Louisiana State University-Shreveport established itself in the Springlake neighborhood giving it the common name of University Terrace.

The R.W. Norton Art Foundation is a free, nonprofit museum and art gallery that features original works of European and American artists. The foundation is home to a library, azalea gardens and public educational programs.

Meadows Museum of Art at Centenary College charges no admission fee to view its museum and art gallery. Students, alumni and the general public are welcome to visit the permanent and temporary exhibits.

A majority of restaurants and taverns in the Springlake, University Terrace neighborhood can be found along Highway 1 and 526. Asian- and Mexican-inspired enterprises dominate the dining scene. Most of the nightlife in Springlake happens at the bars of area restaurants. For an upscale night out visit the Wine Country Bistro at the Pierremont Mall. Savour delicate entrées on tiny plates, and sip from perfectly paired wines or draft beers.

Trejo's Mexican Restaurant caters, hosts large parties and serves authentic Mexican cuisine for lunch and dinner. Fresh ingredients go into every specially prepared meal for a unique old country taste. Start with the fajita nachos to share have the hearty carne asada for the main course. If you're eating on a budget, order the taco salad for a satisfying meal that's easy on the wallet.

Warm your palate at Indigo Indian Bistro with perfectly spiced meals. The vegetarian chana masala consistently ranks among Indigo's most popular dishes. Have the rogan josh for a unique taste of lamb.

The dining options at El Patrillo don't stop. Every plate looks better than the last, and the quality of service will leave you astounded. At El Patrillo, everything tastes as good as it looks. Order the steak ranchero for a hot taste of Mexico, or if you love a little bit of each, have the delicioso for one or two. There are plenty of adult beverages at the bar as well. Have Don Julio tequila on the rocks, or call in a round of cold beers from the tap.

Most residents in Springlake travel by car on Interstate 49 and Highway 1. Highways can be accessed at Pierremont Road, East 70th and East Kings Highway. The Fern Avenue Walking and Bicycle Trail exists west of Fern Avenue in central University Terrace, but other trails and bicycle friendly roads can be hard to find. Sidewalks lay beside residential streets, but are not always available along two lane highways. SporTran, Shreveport's city bus system, is available for commuters who choose public transportation.

A1A Area Taxi headquarters at East Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, only a few miles south of Springlake and can be hailed for inter-city trips or rides to the Shreveport Regional Airport. Uber does not service Shreveport, LA.

There are a few small free-to-enter parks in the Springlake neighborhood. Pilots Field by University Plaza has baseball fields and tennis courts. A B Palmer Park hosts a playground, tennis courts, public swimming pool and a softball field. Cedar Grove Park has a popular basketball court and tennis courts. Charles and Marie Hamel Memorial Park is an out of the way park along the Red River that's perfect for dog walks and off-leash exercising.

Querbes Park on Youree Drive possesses 160 acres of recreational activities and year round fun. Residents can play 18-hole gold, join an after school program at the community center, get cool at the swimming pool and sprayground or take part in a tennis match. The premises also hold a recreation center for citizens that'd like to participate in wellness programs or exercise individually.

The Red River Revel Arts Festival celebrates the visual and performing arts in the downtown festival plaza. The ballet performs, artists from around the region show their works and kids can make visual arts too. Revel Arts takes over the downtown district for a week in October in conjunction with food and beverage companies and the Shreveport Farmers Market.

Living in Springlake-University Terrace costs 13 percent more than the city average. Bus fare will set you back $1.25 per ride or $3 for a day pass. A one-bedroom apartment rents for an average of $652 a month. Draft beer usually starts at $4 a pint, and a tank of gasoline costs 12 percent less than the national average.

Three major centers of shopping can be easily located in Springlake-University Terrace. The Eastgate Shopping Center on Youree and East 70th is the largest, followed by the East Bert Kouns Industrial Loop and Youree Drive intersection and the Automotive parkway just north of the Inner Loop Expressway. The average resident can find anything needed on Youree Drive and never have need to leave the neighborhood.

Couleur Boutique at the Town Oak Square on Pierremont has everything a woman would want for a night out or a vacation at the beach. Couleur is known as a full service women's boutique and satisfies high fashion, makeup, remarkable jewelry, swimwear and lingerie. This women's designer boutique also serves a niche market for females needed mastectomy solutions. Kitty Roark is certified and accredited by the American Board for Certification for Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics, and can match her clients with the perfect surgical bras and other enhancers.

Favorite Sisters' Boutique in the Southfield Shopping Center is family owned and operated, and ready to serve their clients savvy, playful and chic fashion that's reasonably priced. Shop through women's apparel, accessories, boots and shoes online or in the store.

An Albertson's and a Brookshire's Grocery Store serve Springlake-University Terrace with perishable and nonperishable foods, a special order bakery and deli. Albertson's and Brookshire's are both popular grocery stores that serve the Ark-La-Tex region.

The Shreveport Farmers Market is always a popular event under the Festival Plaza pavilions in the downtown neighborhood. Open on Tuesdays and Saturdays in the summer and Saturdays only in fall, the farmers' market offers hot foods, fresh farm raised produce, arts and crafts, jams, live music and great fun.