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Mission Statement“The Department of Parks and Recreation is committed to improving our community’s health, stability, beauty, and quality of life by providing outstanding parks, trails, recreational facilities, and leisure opportunities for all Columbia citizens.” |
Vision Statement“Columbia is the best place to live, work, learn and play.” |
About Us
Columbia Parks and Recreation oversees over 3,500 acres of park land, maintains 74 parks and over 60 miles of trail, and conducts programs at 12 indoor recreation facilities. (Park and facility inventory) A wide array of sports, recreation activities, lessons and special events are available for citizens of all ages. Open space, parks, and trails provide opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty of Columbia.
The largest of the parks is the 533-acre Columbia Cosmopolitan Recreation Area. Columbia has eight destination trails – the MKT Nature/Fitness Trail, Bear Creek Trail, Grindstone Creek Trail, Hinkson Creek Trail, County House Trail, Hominy Creek Trail, Scott’s Branch Trail, and South Providence Trail, along with many regional, community, and neighborhood park trails. The 8.9-mile MKT Nature/Fitness Trail connects downtown Columbia with the Katy Trail State Park and provides active recreation while preserving large areas of natural beauty.
The Department is organized into two divisions: Park Services and Recreation Services.
Park Services Division
In the Park Services Division, the Parks Management and Operations Program is responsible for the management, maintenance, and operation of parks, playgrounds, indoor and outdoor recreation facilities, athletic fields, golf courses, grounds, trails and special events support. It is also responsible for the maintenance of small equipment and the capital replacement of the P & R Department’s fleet. The Planning and Development Program in the Park Services Division is responsible for all park capital improvements. Staff identify, plan and develop recreation areas and facilities to meet the varied recreation and leisure needs of the citizens of Columbia. Also included in this division is the City’s Natural Resource Program, which includes Forestry and Horticulture staff responsible for landscaped areas in all parks, public buildings, designated median strips and the downtown area. The Park Ranger Program works out of this division and provides assistance to visitors and enforces the park rules and regulations.
Recreation Services Division
Recreation Services provides a broad spectrum of leisure services to meet the needs of all segments of the community. This includes group and individual programming to promote a high quality of life through positive, social, cultural, psychological, emotional, and physiological development. The sections administered in the Recreation Services Division are: Sports Programming; Aquatics; Adaptive and Outdoor Recreation; Community Recreation; Golf/Concessions; Senior Programming; Cultural Arts and Life Enrichment; Oak Tours; and the Activity and Recreation Center (ARC). The summer youth employment program, Career Awareness and Related Experience (CARE), is also administered by the Recreation Services Division.
Contact Us
Parks & Recreation Office – Gentry Building
Telephone Number:
573-874-7460
Cancellation Hotline:
573-874-7663
Fax Number:
573-874-7640
Mailing Address:
Parks & Recreation
P.O. Box 6015
Columbia, MO 65205-6015
Physical Address:
Parks & Recreation
One S. 7th Street
Columbia, MO 65201
Gentry Business Hours:
M-F, 8:00am-5:00pm
(closed on holidays)
For general information, questions, reservations, and program registration contact:
Parks & Recreation Main Office – Front Desk
573-874-7460
For media contact:
Marketing Specialist
Tammy Miller
573-874-7465
tammy.miller@como.govcreate new email
For problems/concerns regarding recreation programs and the Activity and Recreation Center (ARC) contact:
Recreation Services Manager
Erika Coffman
573-874-7572
erika.coffman@como.govcreate new email
For problems/concerns regarding park operations/maintenance contact:
Park Services Manager
Gabe Huffington
573-874-7202
gabe.huffington@como.govcreate new email
For problems/concerns regarding park planning and development contact:
Park Planning & Development Superintendent
Mike Snyder
573-874-7203
mike.snyder@como.govcreate new email
For problems/concerns regarding the parks’ natural resources (including horticulture and forestry) contact:
Park Natural Resources Supervisor
Brett O’Brien
573-874-7489
brett.obrien@como.govcreate new email
Horticulturist
Ryan Russell
573-874-6333
ryan.russell@como.govcreate new email
Forester
Dave Dittmer
573-874-7520
dave.dittmer@como.govcreate new email
Parks & Recreation Director
Mike Griggs
573-874-7463
mike.griggs@como.govcreate new email
Organization Charts
The Department is organized into two divisions: Park Services and Recreation Services.
- Department Organization Chartopens PDF file
- Park Services Organization Chartopens PDF file
- Recreation Services Organization Chartopens PDF file
- Activity and Recreation Center (ARC) Chartopens PDF file
Note: The ARC is a part of the Recreation Services Division