Parks & Rec Presence on Google Maps

Over the last several months the Parks and Recreation Department has been reviewing it's presence on Google Maps. In the Spring of 2011 it was noticed that there were only four of the system's parks shown and with one exception, none were correctly shown. Since then there has been a concerted effort to represent the park system more accurately and show the amenities and trails as best as the technology will allow. We invite you to browse each park and let us know what we might have overlooked!

"Houston we have base rock" 9-27-2011

Forestry has brought in almost all the base rock for the perimeter trail. Tomorrow the rock with be graded in preparation for the surface rock. There is still quite a bit of rock and soil work to do at the far south end of the trail( where it meets the M-K-T). So for the meantime there will be a period where no connectivity between the two remains.

Today the last concrete pour was made at the pump house building, to fill in the window, door and floor openings. Now the count starts for 28 days before back filling operations can commence. Back filling will be the first stage in the preparation for the green of the structure.

Urban Ecology Restoration Project 9-23-2011

Non-woven geo-fabric has been installed in preparation for trail base rock material. The installation of geo-fabric reduces the amount of base rock required to build a trail, thereby reducing the time and cost of trail installation and maintenance. This is a pilot project for a greener way of trail construction.

Forestry's four man permanent crew will continue their efforts to get this trail built and open for users as fast as they possibly can while contending with the many other responsibilities and projects they have to work on concurrently.

Maplewood Barn site work begins

Work has started on the rebuilding of the Maplewood barn. The concrete floor of the original barn has been demoed and the regrading of the site has started. This work is to prep the site for the new barn. The work on the new building should started soon. The bid has been awarded and the contracts/bonding are being worked on now.

Playground at Cosmo Bethel Park has been replaced!

The playground at Bethel Park has been replaced following the fire that burned down the uppermost playground and slides. This very popular playground is now fully operational. Enjoy!

3M Urban Ecology Restoration Project gets more visitors...the two legged kind

September 15th, 2011 the Central Missouri Community Forestry Council came to visit the site and see what we are doing with trail building and the plans for reforesting parts of the site. If you click here, you'll be taken to their Facebook page.

3M Urban Ecology Restoration Project gets visitors...the two legged kind

September 9th the wetlands project had a good visit from some of the participants of Job Point. These young men and women were on their way to do a clean sweep of the Hinkson Creek and stopped by to learn a little about the project and it's purpose. To see photos of the visit please click here

Power Shut Off at Twin Lakes Recreation Area

As part of the entry work, the electric lines are being put underground. To finish this work the power for the shelter and the restroom will be shut off temporarily. Columbia Water and Light anticipates this outrage to only last a short time while the lines are re-connected. The shut off will occur sometime between 8 am Wednesday Sept 14 and 4 pm Friday Sept 16. Please contact Parks and Recreation for more information.

Hindman Discovery Garden update.

Crews are working on placing boulders and spreading topsoil for future garden platings.

The walkway approaching the Living Wall area.

Notice the new limestone bench that has just been installed!

Park Construction crews are boring holes for the footings

for benches and for the overlook railing.


A cut limestone bench that has recently been installed.

Shepard tennis courts update

Christensen Construction has made great progress on the tennis courts at Shepard School.

The grading is complete, geo-fabric is placed and covered with 6" of gravel

prior to the asphalt surface.

The gravel is graded smooth, rolled and compacted, the slopes are checked for proper drainage, prior to asphalt paving.

The first layer of asphalt is complete. A second layer of finer asphalt goes down over this layer before fencing, net posts and paint coats.

The playground at Bethel Park is being re-built.

The playground at Bethel Park caught fire and has been out of use.

As of September 2, the old playground had been removed and the construction of a new playground piece had begun. A few missing parts mean that the playground will not be available until after the Labor Day weekend. The contractor is scheduled to return and complete the project during the week of September 6.

Construction of the new playground has begun!

New sign for Douglass Park

The new entrance sign at Douglass Park is completed. We still have some landscape work to do to clean up the site.