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.

Become a Park Pal!

One legacy of Columbia's first Play Day is a new group for kids of all ages--Park Pals!

Anyone can become a Park Pal--all they have to do is read and agree to the Park Pals Pledge, then register. Registration will be available at upcoming events in Columbia's parks and also online at the City's website.

Here is the Park Pals Pledge:

1. I will read the park rules posted at each location;
2. I will obey the park rules at all times;
3. I will help to control litter whenever possible;
4. I will call 281-4264 to report park abuse or park safety issues;
5. I will have a great time when visiting the City of Columbia's parks;
6. I will proudly wear my Park Pal wrist band when visiting the City of Columbia's parks!

The Park Pals concept was created by Columbia Alderman Mary Ellen Niemietz and the logo was developed by Play Commission member Bill Seibel with assistance from the folks at Marketicity.

Mayor Proclaims Sept. 19th as 'Play Day'

Last evening, Columbia Mayor Keven Hutchinson proclaimed Saturday, September 19th, as "Play Day"--making the municipal government an official sponsor of the first annual event celebrating play.

The proclamation read as follows:

• Whereas, play is a crucial factor in the overall well-being of children;
• Whereas, children who play are healthier and suffer less obesity and obesity-related health problems such as diabetes and heart disease;
• Whereas, children who play do better in school and develop cognitive skills that are linked to learning and academic performance;
• Whereas, children who play learn the social skills that help them become happy and well-adjusted adults;
• Whereas, research proves that recreation and exercise are important to the physical and mental health of citizens of all ages;
• Whereas, a diverse and dynamic parks and recreation program is considered a key element of local quality of life; and
• Whereas, the City of Columbia has previously endorsed the National Campaign for Play, established a Play Commission and been designated a “Playful City USA”;
  
  NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kevin B. Hutchinson, Mayor of the City of Columbia, proclaim the 19th of September 2009 to be “Play Day” in Columbia and invite our citizens to participate in activities recognizing that day.

John Traube, chair for the Play Commission, and other members of that group were on hand to receive the proclamation along with applause from the City Council and other citizens present at the meeting. After that moment in the limelight, the group retired to another meeting room in City Hall to finish their next-to-final planning meeting prior to the big event.

Making Space for the Entire Community

One of the Play Commission's goals--and one of the elements in this year's Action Plan--is to create gathering places for the entire community that offer areas and activities engaging for multiple generations and areas of interest. Most of Columbia's playspaces are tot lots or play structures designed with only the youngest kids in mind, lacking elements that attract older children or other members of the community.

A recent blog post by Bethe Almeras (DIY Online Community/Communications Manager for KaBOOM!) defines a true community space like this:

[It] should entice folks to stop by throughout the day and evening (prior to closing time), and be a space where people spend extended periods of time engaged in play and social interaction--not simply a quick stop to get the kids out of the house for a few minutes.

Beth continues with some concrete (in some cases, perhaps literally) examples of improvements that help community spaces more closely match the aforementioned goal:

• An asphalt game area for Hopscotch, Four Square, and more;
• A community or children’s garden;
• Benches and conversation pits for parents/grandparents, book clubs, senior citizens social groups, and gardening clubs to meet;
• Tables with checker & chessboard tops;
• A bulletin board for people to announce upcoming special events, clean-up days, etc.;
• A basketball court (can be used for other old-school playground games, too!);
• A shade structure to give folks a place to cool off.

Play Commission Adopts 2009-2010 Action Plan

Members of the Play Commission have finalized their “action plan for play,” a comprehensive list of meaningful action items to be completed between now and May 1, 2010. The goal of these items is to increase the quality of, quantity of and access to play opportunities within the Columbia community.

Items identified by the group include the following:

• Investigate opportunities for holiday/summer use of school district playspaces;
• Assist the school district with plans to redevelop the playspace at the Rapp St. school (a facility that will be converted this summer—once again—into an elementary school);
• Review current location of community playspaces and recommend additional sites;
• Initiate a planning process that better incorporates the needs of preschool kids;
• Identify and design a playspace for seniors;
• Add one or more pavilions adjacent to playspaces;
• Improve signage to Meadow Ridge playspace;
• Deploy a blog to attract community input on playspaces;
• Set up a Facebook page to build support/awareness.

The action plan includes dates for completion of each item and the Play Commission seeks input and assistance from the larger community during the process.

Report from the Play Commission's First Meeting

The Columbia Play Commission held its inaugural meeting yesterday evening and, following an enthusiastic kick-off by Mayor Kevin Hutchinson, progressed rapidly through their agenda during a whirlwind meeting.

The group elected John Traube, owner of Traube Tent & Awning, as Chair and Shannon Zarek, owner of Mokka Kaffeehaus, as Secretary. The election of a Vice President was postponed until the group’s next meeting.

After review and lively discussion, the Play Commission approved the draft Action Plan for Play, a roadmap for their activities during the next ten months.

Members of the Commission also determined to move the date for the community’s first Play Day to Saturday, September 19th. They will continue organizing this event in meetings that will be held bi-weekly, at least through the summer.

The next meeting of the Play Commission is scheduled for Wednesday evening, July 15th, beginning at 7:00 p.m in the Auditorium at Columbia City Hall.

What's a Citizen To Do?

How can all the citizens of Columbia participate in the process of improving play? What are some good ways to get involved? Here are some ideas:

• Follow this blog (click on the button to the right) and make comments;
• Attend meetings of the Play Commission (the first one is Tuesday evening, June 30th, at City Hall) and voice your opinions;
• Become a fan of the Columbia Play Commission on Facebook and make comments there;
• Join the National Campaign for Play sponsored by KaBOOM! (see links to right);
• Visit the Playspace Finder (link to the right) and offer your opinions about Columbia's public playspaces;
• Make a call, send an email or a letter to Paul Ellis, staff for the Commission.

The Play Commission is seeking support from the broader community--public input from all of these sources will be shared at each Commisison meeting.

Local Champions for Play

Columbia's Play Commission--a group of nine local citizens who are charged with being champions for play--will hold its inaugural meeting at City Hall on the evening of June 30th.

At that first meeting, Commissioners will review their responsibilities, elect officers, review and finalize this year's action plan, and begin planning for Play Day 2009.

The meeting, which begins at 7:00 p.m., is open to the public.

The members of the Play Commission are:

• Jeff Cernicek, representing the Monroe County YMCA;
• Heather Hemmer;
• Susan Miller, representing the Girl Scouts of America;
• Sharon Redinger;
• William Seibel;
• Ed Settles, representing Columbia Unit School District 4;
• John Traube;
• Dan Woelfel; and
• Shannon Zarek.

The group will have ongoing assistance from the professional staff of the City's Community & Economic Development Department.

Keeping Commitments

Communities become Playful City USA communities by meeting five principal commitments:

• Creating a local play commission;
• Designing an annual action plan for play;
• Conducting a playspace audit of all publicly accessible play areas;
• Identifying current spending on capital projects and maintenance of playspaces;
• Proclaiming and celebrating an annual "KaBOOM! Play Day".

This blog will continue to update progress over time on all five commitments. For now, here's a snapshot:

• On May 19th, Resolution 02-2009 established Columbia's Play Commission with nine members;
• A draft action plan has been developed and will be refined by the Play Commission at their inaugural meeting later this month;
• Six local playspaces have been identified and evaluated--community members will be encouraged to add their comments online;
• City staff has reported that Columbia and its local school district together spend about $243,000 annually on 102 acres of parks and open spaces;
• Columbia's first annual "Play Day" is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29th.