Columbia council approves Twin Lakes master-plan updates, including dog-park expansion and splash-pad space

The Columbia City Council on June 2 approved a revised Twin Lakes Recreation Area master plan that replaces the closed Little Maids Cove pool with expanded dog-park acreage, upgrades a 23-year-old playground and parking, and reserves space for a future splash pad.

Parks and Recreation Director Gabe Huffington summarized the changes in a staff presentation: "Twin Lakes Recreation Area is located at 2500 Chapel Hill Road. It's a 73.3 acre park located in Columbia's Fourth Ward." He told council the project would use $350,000 in park sales tax funding and that staff is seeking authorization to update the master plan and proceed with design and construction contracting.

Huffington said the Little Maids Cove pool has not operated since 2019, has ongoing leaks that require continuous refilling and would need "at least over a half a million dollars, if not more" in repairs including replacement of filtration and sanitation systems, plumbing under concrete, and concrete slides. Given those costs and staffing needs — the facility historically required about 12 staff daily — staff proposed removing or renovating some outdated buildings, expanding the dog park by about 5 acres into the former pool footprint, and reserving space adjacent to the playground and shelter for a future splash pad.

Why it matters: Council and park staff framed the project as a tradeoff between costly, high-maintenance pool repairs and a lower-cost, lower-staff alternative that keeps active public use of the park. Huffington said a splash pad "is a free facility, so it's more accessible to the public," can run longer hours, and eliminates the need for lifeguards. Staff estimated splash-pad costs "anywhere between $750,000 to a million dollars" depending on features.

Key features approved or described by staff: - Shelter renovations including roof, siding and LED lighting upgrades. - Replacement of a 23-year-old playground in the existing location, plus accessible walkways from parking. - Parking-lot mill-and-overlay and a move to angled parking for directional flow and improved bicycle routing. - Dog-park improvements: concrete double-entry gates, shoreline work, fencing replacement, new shade canopies in the small-dog area, and expansion into the Little Maids Cove footprint to provide year-round dog-park capacity. - Removal or renovation of obsolete pool support buildings; evaluation of keeping exterior restrooms.

Public input and concerns were incorporated into the plan, Huffington said, including additional shade, more accessible paths, improved trail connectivity to the County House Trail where feasible, and measures to address vehicle break-ins in the parking lot. Local dog-park users who spoke at the public hearing supported the expansion and accessibility improvements; one longtime user said the park functions as an "exercise and social opportunity" for people as well as dogs.

Council members asked about sequencing and timing. Huffington said construction would likely begin this fall with the playground installation, shelter renovations would follow and the overall schedule targets project completion around 2027, noting that minimizing interruptions to park users was a priority. He said staff would communicate closures and reservation impacts to park users and coordinate special-event permits.

The council voted to approve the ordinance updating the Twin Lakes master plan and authorizing the improvements. Roll call on Council Bill 1 17 25 recorded affirmative votes from Mister Waterman, Miss Peters, Miss Buffalo, Miss Carroll and Mister Foster.

Next steps: Staff will move into design and contracting for components of the plan, communicate construction timing to park users, and return to council with further aquatic-facility planning tied to the city parks, recreation and open-space master-plan update and future park sales-tax funding discussions.