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.