Columbia Wins Funding for American Legion Fields

The City of Columbia is one of 42 cities, villages and parks districts awarded funding for 2012 through the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program administered through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

City leaders have agreed to use the $240,000 award to purchase a 17-acre portion of  American Legion Memorial Park that includes ball fields and other recreational areas in order to maintain their public use.  With the aging of American Legion Post 581's membership, it has become increasingly difficult for the group to physically maintain the fields, used by more than 1300 young people annually through programmed sports activities.  In 2010, the City agreed to assume maintenance and scheduling duties for the property while it pursued the grant.

Financed by a percentage of the state's Real Estate Transfer Tax, OSLAD grants fund acquisition of land for new park sites or park expansions with 50% of approved project costs to be reimbursed; thus, the City will need to match OSLAD's award to purchase the property. 

With 117 acres of open space, Columbia ranks near the minimum national threshold for open space, but much of that land is currently undeveloped for recreational use; hence, the American Legion Fields are an outstanding local resource for the community--one that the City hopes to preserve for future generations.

Explore Columbia!

The City of Columbia, in partnership with the HeartLands Conservancy, has begun the process of creating the Explore Columbia! plan, a comprehensive effort to improve walking and bicycling conditions throughout the city. When completed, this plan will make it easier for people of all ages and abilities to safely and comfortably reach parks, schools, shopping areas, and other important community destinations on foot, by bike, or through other alternatives for transportation. The plan will detail locations and conditions of sidewalks, multi-use trails, bike lanes, and other routes and it will allow the City to apply for funding to complete these projects.

City leaders, working through the Play Commission, need citizens’ help in order to determine the most appropriate locations and types of facilities, and desired walking and/or biking improvements to be incorporated into the plan document. Throughout the planning process there will be several opportunities for citizens to give their feedback, ideas, and concerns about Explore Columbia! The first of these is a survey available online; paper copies can also be picked up in the Clerk’s Office at Columbia City Hall.

This project is funded by a federal planning grant administered through the  Illinois Department of Transportation; other partners include Trailnet and James Pona & Associates.  In all, four Metro East communities are participating in this pilot project--Swansea, Waterloo, Columbia, and a yet to be determined Madison County community.

New Vision Emerges for Admiral Trost Park

The public is invited to review the preferred alternative for the long-term use of the 33.8-acre parcel in the Admiral Trost Development Subdivision designated for parks & recreation. The City and its consultant, SWT Design of St. Louis (along with sub-consultant SCI Engineering), seek community input as to how best to develop the park property for future recreational and community uses.

Following extensive site analysis, two public forums, several focus group meetings, and meetings with the City Council and various advisory boards, the planning team presented the preferred alternative this past Monday evening to members of the City Council and the Plan Commission.  This alternative, pictured at right, includes new wetland areas, a boardwalk with interpretive areas, a football stadium, a fitness trail, practice fields and other public amenities.   The final draft plan will be reviewed by the Play Commission at their next meeting, then referred to the City Council, which is expected to hold a final public hearing on the proposed plan sometime next month.

For more information about the proposed park and the master planning process, visit the City of Columbia's website.

Special Events, Park Rules to Change

Members of the Columbia City Council have completed exhaustive review of ordinances which will make changes to parks & recreation rules, procedures and fees--capping more than a year of work by members of the Play Commission.

If adopted next Monday evening as anticipated, the proposed ordinances will enact the following changes:

• Reservation of park facilities will now be available for facilities in A.C. Metter Memorial Park, adjacent to the Columbia Public Library;
• Pavilion reservation applications will be revised to add new facilities and expand periods of use, creating opportunities to double availability to residents;
• Application for athletic areas will be expanded to include more facilities;
• A system will be created to help organize special events; and
• Posted park rules will be revised.

One of the proposed changes will allow rental of park pavilions for two periods each day--from opening until 2:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. until closing. Play Commission members argue that this change will provide more turnover at pavilions and, hence, allow more use of the facilities. Local residents may still use the pavilions, free of charge, if no one has reserved them during any given period. A placard system will be used to help manage reservations over the weekends.

The new regulations will establish a system for permitting special events. A special event is defined as any "outdoor or seasonal event including, but not limited to a picnic, parade, carnival, craft fair, art fair, bicycle/motorcycle/vehicle ride, run/walk, car show, wedding or other reception, or any other event held on public property which is open to attendance by the general public and/or may require special consideration from [the] City…” A one-time $125 processing fee will be charged for each event application, and additional fees may apply depending upon the services required.

For more information about the proposed new rules, procedures and fees, please contact Paul Ellis at (618) 281-7144 x. 118 or via email at pellis@columbiaillinois.com.

Changing the Rules

Members of the Columbia City Council are expected tonight to adopt two ordinances which will enable City staff to make a number of changes in parks & recreation procedures recommended by the Play Commission:

• Expand rental of park facilities to include Metter Memorial Park;
• Revise the park pavilion application to add new facilities and expand periods of use;
• Create an application for athletic areas;
• Create a new special event permits; and
• Revise posted park rules.

One of the proposed changes will allow rental of park pavilions for two periods each day--from opening until 2:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. until closing.  Play Commission members argue that this change will provide more turnover at pavilions and, hence, allow more use of the facilities.  Local residents may still use the pavilions, free of charge, if no one has reserved them during any given rental period.  A placard system will be used to help manage reservations over the weekends.

Columbia Kids Keeping on the Move

Columbia Mayor Kevin Hutchinson served as a crossing guard for students and parents walking or riding bicycles to school today as part of the third annual "Walk & Roll to School Day" locally.  Columbia's celebration was one of more than 3,200 events staged today to mark International Walk to School Day.

The Mayor's service was part of the local community's Safe Routes to School program, an ongoing effort to encourage and enable more children to walk and bicycle to school.  To support safe travel, special crossing guards were on duty along Main St. at Temple Ave., near Ron’s Pharmacy and near The Lantern Restaurant between 7:15 and 8:00 in the morning and between 2:30 and 3:30 in the afternoon. The crossing guard at Immaculate Conception School was on duty regular hours, as always.

Safe Routes to School provides grants each year for local communities to make infrastructure improvements such as adding sidewalks or trails as well as non-infrastructure projects like funding more crossing guards.  Last year, Columbia received a $70,000 grant for fixed speed feedback signs which will be installed within the next few months.

First Lady Obama Urges National Action on Childhod Obesity

First lady Michelle Obama appealed to the nation's governors today for help in reducing childhood obesity, telling them that they have a moral and financial imperative to act.  Obama seeks support from leaders of both parties and expressed respect for the influence of the states.

The first lady has chosen what she hopes will be her legacy for the nation--the "Let's Move" campaign to curb childhood obesity. About two-thirds of American adults, and about a third of American children, are overweight or obese.

As articulated over the past several months, the first lady's campaign has four parts:

1. Helping parents make better food choices;
2. Serving healthier food in school vending machines and lunch lines;
3. Making healthy food more available and affordable; and
4. Encouraging children to exercise more.

The National Campaign for Play, organized by national non-profit KaBoom! and supported by the Columbia Play Commission, has been endorsed by Obama as a partner dedicated to bringing play back into the lives of America's children. Play makes children happier, fitter, smarter, and more socially adept and creative both here and now and in the future.