2013 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan

2013 Open Space Master Plan cover photo

The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan was completed and adopted by City Council in 2013. This plan will serve as a guide for the development of parks and recreational facilities over the next ten years. 

The 2013 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan is a 458-page document that is available for viewing on line by chapter or by section below. The full document is available for viewing on-line or downloading via the links on the right.

Note: The blank even-numbered pages in the hard copy (back side of maps, cover pages, and preliminary pages) are not included in the on-line PDF version. Hence, any page numbers that appear to be missing are blank pages.

Master Plan process

After substantial public input, Parks and Recreation staff developed a draft 2013 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan. The P&R Department sought comments on the draft plan from Parks and Recreation Commission, various other commissions, and the public.

After collecting public input on the draft Master Plan, revisions were made to Chapter 10-Trail Acquisition and Development and Chapter 11-Capital Improvement Program. The revised draft was presented to the City Council, and a public hearing was held at the July 15, 2013 City Council Meeting. The draft was approved at the Council Meeting with no significant changes. A final document was prepared, and the City Council officially adopted the plan on October 21, 2013.

View the master plan online

The document is best understood by reading each chapter in its entirety, so that the reader has opportunity to read the explanations regarding how the various plans were derived. However, to assist with slower computer connections and facilitate viewing of specific sections or pages, links are also available to each separate section. The pages/sections highlighted in green below are the main elements that represent the culmination of the master planning process. Interested parties are encouraged to pay special attention to these portions of the document.

2013 PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN
Chapter Page Description Page #
Cover and Title Pageopens PDF file i
Letter from the Director and Acknowledgementsopens PDF file iii
Table of Contentsopens PDF file vii
Chapter 1. Introductionopens PDF file
  Introductionopens PDF file 1
Chapter 2. Strategic Planopens PDF file
  Missionopens PDF file 6
Strategic Prioritiesopens PDF file 7
Strategic Planningopens PDF file 14
Chapter 3. Accomplishmentsopens PDF file
  Overviewopens PDF file 27
Section I: New Park Acquisition and Developmentopens PDF file 28
Section II: New Trail Acquisition and Developmentopens PDF file 29
Section III: Partnership Projects with the Columbia Public School Districtopens PDF file 30
Section IV: Existing Parks and Facilitiesopens PDF file 31
Chapter 4. Park and Facility Inventoryopens PDF file
  Overviewopens PDF file 39
Park Categoriesopens PDF file 41
City of Columbia’s Parks by Categoryopens PDF file 45
Existing Greenbelts/Greenways/Trails (Map)opens PDF file 47
Existing Parks and Trails (Map)opens PDF file 49
Existing Neighborhood Parks (Map)opens PDF file 51
Existing Community Parks (Map)opens PDF file 53
Existing Regional Parks (Map)opens PDF file 55
Existing Natural Resource Parks (Map)opens PDF file 57
Existing Special Purpose Parks (Map)opens PDF file 59
City’s Outdoor Park Facility Inventoryopens PDF file 61
Indoor Recreation Facilities and Buildingsopens PDF file 63
Indoor Facilities – Used for Parks and Recreation Programsopens PDF file 65
Indoor Facilities – Non-Profit Providersopens PDF file 66
County, State and Federal Parks within 10 Miles of Columbia City Limitsopens PDF file 67
Universities/Collegesopens PDF file 68
Schools (PK-12)opens PDF file 69
Non-Municipal/Quasi-Publicopens PDF file 70
Chapter 5. Facility Standardsopens PDF file
  Overviewopens PDF file 73
Goals for Development Projectsopens PDF file 75
Comparison to Standards Chart 2013opens PDF file 77
Comparison to Standards Chart 2022opens PDF file 79
Conclusion Based on DNR Development Guidelinesopens PDF file 81
Chapter 6. Public Inputopens PDF file
  Overviewopens PDF file 83
Focus Group Meetingsopens PDF file 87
2010 P&R Needs Assessment Survey: Citywide – Executive Summaryopens PDF file 99
2011 P&R Needs Assessment Survey: Park User – Executive Summaryopens PDF file 105
Conclusionopens PDF file 112
Chapter 7. Trendsopens PDF file
  Overviewopens PDF file 115
Analysisopens PDF file 117
National Participationopens PDF file 133
Columbia Participation Levelsopens PDF file 135
Columbia Participation Levels Analysisopens PDF file 141
Conclusionopens PDF file 148
Chapter 8. CIP Financingopens PDF file
  Overviewopens PDF file 149
Potential Funding Sourcesopens PDF file 151
Grantsopens PDF file 154
CIP Abbreviations and Definitionsopens PDF file 158
Parks and Recreation CIP Funding Sources – 10 Year Historyopens PDF file 159
Conclusionopens PDF file 160
Chapter 9. Park Acquisition and Developmentopens PDF file
  Overviewopens PDF file 161
Section I: Neighborhood Parksopens PDF file 163
2013 Neighborhood Park Plan (Map)opens PDF file 169
Section II: Community Parksopens PDF file 171
Section III: Regional Parksopens PDF file 173
Section IV: Special Purpose Parksopens PDF file 174
Section V: Natural Resource Areasopens PDF file 176
Conclusionopens PDF file 177
Chapter 10. Trail Acquisition and Development *opens PDF file
  Overview *opens PDF file 179
Current Statusopens PDF file 184
Acquisition Prioritiesopens PDF file 186
Acquisition and Development Costsopens PDF file 188
Trail Projectsopens PDF file 194
2013 Trails Plan (Map)opens PDF file 199
Conclusionopens PDF file 201
Chapter 11. Recommended Capital Improvementsopens PDF file
  Overviewopens PDF file 203
Section I: Existing Facilitiesopens PDF file 205
Section II: New Facilities (Location Undetermined)opens PDF file 220
Section III: Capital Improvement Programopens PDF file 222
Conclusionopens PDF file 230
Chapter 12. Conclusionopens PDF file
  Conclusionopens PDF file 231
Appendix Aopens PDF file
  Appendix Aopens PDF file 233
Activity & Recreation Centeropens PDF file 234
Again Street Parkopens PDF file 236
Albert, C. M. Memorial Parkopens PDF file 238
Albert-Oakland Parkopens PDF file 240
American Legion Parkopens PDF file 242
Armory Sports and Recreation Centeropens PDF file 244
Atkins Parkopens PDF file 246
Auburn Hills Parkopens PDF file 248
Barberry Park Propertyopens PDF file 250
Battle Avenue Park Propertyopens PDF file 252
Bear Creek Parkopens PDF file 254
Bear Creek Trailopens PDF file 256
Bonnie View Nature Sanctuaryopens PDF file 258
Boxer Parkopens PDF file 260
Brown Station Parkopens PDF file 262
Capen Parkopens PDF file 264
Cascades Parkopens PDF file 266
Clary-Shy Community Parkopens PDF file 268
Cliff Drive Parkopens PDF file 270
Columbia Cosmopolitan Recreation Areaopens PDF file 272
Cosmo-Bethel Parkopens PDF file 276
County House Trailopens PDF file 278
Douglass Park and Pool – Schoolopens PDF file 280
Downtown Optimist Parkopens PDF file 282
Dublin Parkopens PDF file 284
Eastport Parkopens PDF file 286
Fairview Park – Schoolopens PDF file 288
Field Parkopens PDF file 290
Flat Branch Parkopens PDF file 292
Forum Nature Areaopens PDF file 294
Gans Creek Recreation Areaopens PDF file 296
Garth Nature Areaopens PDF file 298
Grasslands Parkopens PDF file 300
Grindstone Nature Areaopens PDF file 302
Hickman High School – Poolopens PDF file 304
Highpointe Parkopens PDF file 306
Hinkson Creek Trailopens PDF file 308
Hominy Creek Trailopens PDF file 310
Indian Hills Parkopens PDF file 312
Jay Dix Stationopens PDF file 314
Kiwanis Parkopens PDF file 316
Kyd Parkopens PDF file 318
L. A. Nickell Golf Courseopens PDF file 320
Lake of the Woods Recreation Areaopens PDF file 322
Lange Parkopens PDF file 324
Lions-Stephens Parkopens PDF file 326
Longview Parkopens PDF file 328
Louisville Parkopens PDF file 330
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial at Battle Gardenopens PDF file 332
McKee Parkopens PDF file 334
MKT Nature and Fitness Trailopens PDF file 336
MKT Trail Plazaopens PDF file 338
MKT Trail – Scott Blvd. Accessopens PDF file 340
Nifong Parkopens PDF file 342
Oakwood Hills Parkopens PDF file 344
Old 63 Roadside Parkopens PDF file 346
Paquin Parkopens PDF file 348
Parkade Park – Schoolopens PDF file 350
Parks Management Centeropens PDF file 352
Philips Parkopens PDF file 354
Proctor Parkopens PDF file 356
Rock Bridge Parkopens PDF file 358
Rock Quarry Parkopens PDF file 360
Rothwell Parkopens PDF file 362
Shepard Boulevard Park – Schoolopens PDF file 364
Smiley Lane Parkopens PDF file 366
Smith Parkopens PDF file 368
Smithton Parkopens PDF file 370
South Providence Trailopens PDF file 372
Stephens Lake Parkopens PDF file 374
Strawn Road Propertyopens PDF file 376
Twin Lakes Recreation Areaopens PDF file 378
Valleyview Parkopens PDF file 380
Village Square Parkopens PDF file 382
Waters-Moss Memorial Wildlife Areaopens PDF file 384
Westwinds Parkopens PDF file 386
Wilson Parkopens PDF file 388
Woodridge Parkopens PDF file 390
Worley Street Parkopens PDF file 392
Appendix Bopens PDF file
  2010 P&R Needs Assessment Survey: Citywide – Charts and Graphsopens PDF file 395
Benchmarking Comparisonsopens PDF file 415
2010 Citywide Survey Instrumentopens PDF file 425
2011 P&R Needs Assessment Survey: Park User – Charts and Graphsopens PDF file 434
Email Sent to Sports Listserv Membersopens PDF file 450
Email Sent to Webmail and Non-Sports Listserv Membersopens PDF file 451
2011 Park User Survey Instrumentopens PDF file 452
Maps
  Existing Greenbelts/Greenways/Trails (Map)opens PDF file 47
Existing Parks and Trails (Map)opens PDF file 49
Existing Neighborhood Parks (Map)opens PDF file 51
Existing Community Parks (Map)opens PDF file 53
Existing Regional Parks (Map)opens PDF file 55
Existing Natural Resource Parks (Map)opens PDF file 57
Existing Special Purpose Parks (Map)opens PDF file 59
2013 Neighborhood Parks Planopens PDF file 169
2013 Trails Planopens PDF file 199

*Page 180 was revised January 3, 2019 to correct an image.