Philips Park

• Donation Opportunities at Philips Park

Property Acquisition

• Acres: 77.07
• Price per Acre: $16,000
• Purchase Price: $1,233,120
• Funding Sources: Park Sales Tax: $650,000
• Investment Income: $650,000
• Other Provisions: Developer improves dam and lake (City pays 30% of cost). Developer donates 63-acre lake tract after improvements.

The City of Columbia purchased 77 acres (non-lake tract) of the former E. M. Philips farm in October 2004. Based on the purchase agreement approved by the City Council, the 63-acre lake area was donated by Bristol Lake Investments, LLC on December 30, 2005. Acceptance of the donated property was contingent upon the completion of improvements that included raising the dam for the lake, improving the spillway, dredging part of the lake to make it deeper and removing silt. These improvements were designed to make the lake suitable for a regional stormwater facility and a public recreational facility.

City Opens Philips Lake

The completion and acceptance of Bristol Parkway as a public road made public access to the property possible. Consequently, Philips Lake officially opened to the public for fishing July 18, 2008.

Partnership with Missouri Department of Conservation

The lake was added to list of Columbia lakes under MDC’s Community Assistance Program (CAP). Under this program MDC manages and stocks Philips Lake with largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish.
The City of Columbia also obtained a grant from the Missouri Department of Conservation in the amount of $157,500 for park development in support of a fishing lake, which included the construction of an entrance road, parking lot, boat ramp, boat dock, restrooms, sidewalk, and lighting. The development in accord with this grant was considered Phase I of the park development. In addition to the MDC funded items, a 1.4 mile gravel lake trail was also constructed as part of Phase I.

Park Planned as Part of New Regional Park

Philips Park was master planned in conjunction with the the Gans Creek Recreation Area (formerly known as the Crane property), for the development of a southeast regional park. The 2010 Southeast Regional Park Master Plan for both parks was approved by the City Council at the May 3, 2010 Council Meeting.  The master plans for both parks have since been updated. See each park’s web page for the latest updated master plan (Gans Creek Recreation Area and E. Perry Philips Park.) The parks will be developed over many years, similar to Cosmo Park, as priorities are established and funding becomes available.

Dedication & Fishing Derby

Date: May 21, 2011
Dedication Program

A nice group gathered on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 9:30 am for the dedication of A. Perry Philips Park in spite of forecasted rain, high school graduations, and other community activities scheduled that day. Mike Hood, Director of Parks and Recreation; Mayor Bob McDavid; Paul Calvert, Fisheries Field Operations Chief for the Missouri Department of Conservation; and Ward Six Council Member Barbara Hoppe addressed the audience.