Columbia’s Parks and Recreation department has 78 parks, ranging from its largest, Cosmo park, to 20 neighborhood parks. It has 82 full-time employees and another approximately 600 part-time employees, with an annual budget of about $18-million. Columbia Parks and Recreation director Gabe Huffington joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Mr. Huffington grew up in southwest Missouri’s Buffalo, and began his career in golf course management. He’s been with Columbia Parks and Recreation for 15 years, including about a year as director. Mr. Huffington tells listeners that Columbia’s Activity Recreation Center (ARC) and the Columbia Sports Fieldhouse have been packed recently, as people make New Year’s resolutions about fitness. He also discussed one of the fastest growing sports in the United States: pickleball:
Columbia city officials unveil proposed $6-million improvement at Philips park
A proposed $5.8 million improvement project at south Columbia’s sports fieldhouse in A. Perry Philips park will be voted on in April by the city council. The measure was first-read this week.
Under the five-page proposed ordinance, 44,000 square feet would be added to the sports fieldhouse, including four hardwood courts, a multipurpose room and seating area, walkways, additional parking lots and improved lighting.
The project has three funding sources: the 2021 park sales tax, the CVB tourism development fund and Columbia’s general fund.
The busy Columbia Sports Fieldhouse in Perry Philips park near Highway 63 and Grindstone hosted basketball games and practices for 120 local teams and 1,200 kids in 2022 and has also hosted competitions for numerous other sports. They include volleyball, pickleball, wrestling, dance and cheer.
If the council approves the project, Columbia Parks and Recreation officials expect it to be done by the fall of 2024, weather permitting.
Columbia’s mayor describes Gans Creek as a premier cross country course
Columbia’s mayor has high praise for the popular Gans Creek cross country course, which hosted the NCAA’s 2021 SEC championship. Gans Creek is located near Highway 63’s Discovery Parkway exit. “And of course the architects for it travel the country looking at what are the attributes of other college level and professional level courses that …