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City details Southeast Park community center plan; council stresses local-business participation
Summary
City staff described a new Southeast Park community center featuring indoor/outdoor restrooms, event and fitness spaces, tennis and pickleball pro shops, and a covered deck; council emphasized use of local businesses in construction and potential small-business partnerships for pro shops.
City landscape architect Todd Martin outlined plans for a new Southeast Park community center, describing a multi-functional facility located by the park pond with indoor/outdoor restrooms, a covered deck overlooking the pond, an event center, outdoor-classroom capability and dedicated pro-shops for tennis and pickleball.
Martin said the center would include a kitchenette and flexible space for classes and events. Councilmembers highlighted the park’s unique identity and the council’s emphasis on local investment: one councilmember noted the project is “using businesses here in the Midlands and in Columbia, the majority in the City Of Columbia limits” and urged continued focus on local procurement. Another councilmember asked how the pro-shop relationships would work and suggested the pro-shops could be repeatable at other city facilities.
Ending: Staff said the project will proceed through planned consent and procurement steps; council indicated support for prioritizing local businesses and partnerships in the center’s operations.
