Columbia approves Strong Park Phase 3 improvements ahead of PDGA amateur world championships

The City Council approved construction of Phase 3 improvements at Strong Park, including four low‑water creek crossings, stream bank restoration, erosion control on Hole 8 and other maintenance and accessibility upgrades aimed in part at making the course usable for more days of the year and ready for the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) Amateur World Championships in August.

Gabe Huffington, parks and recreation director, told the council the project budget totals $250,000 in park sales tax funding, with a mid‑year FY2025 appropriation of $150,000 and the remaining $100,000 planned for FY2026. “Our improvements include low water crossings on two of the holes, stream bank restoration, some T pad work … and erosion control improvements,” Huffington said.

The crossings are engineered as steel‑beam, open‑panel structures providing roughly 30–36 inches of clearance so water can flow through while allowing safer passage for players, staff and volunteers. Huffington said the design was reviewed by engineering consultants and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and that doing the work in June–July minimizes rain delays because the park’s Harmony Benz course floods seasonally.

Why it matters: Strong Park’s Harmony Benz course is a high‑use amenity that draws out‑of‑state visitors; speakers said the improvements will increase accessibility for participants with limited mobility, reduce maintenance demands, and support economic activity tied to major events. Adam Morrison, president of the Columbia Disc Golf Club, provided usage statistics from UDisc and said the course is “the seventh most played course in Missouri” on that platform; other speakers described out‑of‑state license plates and visitors who travel to play the course.

Public comment was uniformly supportive. Ken Rice, a Bellwood subdivision resident and HOA vice president, urged the city to coordinate a pedestrian connector from Bellwood to Strong Park. Several members of the disc golf community emphasized the tournament and economic benefits: Justin Jackson said the event could generate enough local spending to recoup the project cost during the championship week.

Formal action: Council Bill 125, an ordinance determining the project is in the public interest, approving plans and authorizing appropriations and prevailing‑wage compliance, passed on second reading; roll call recorded unanimous support. Council members noted accessibility gains and the opportunity to host national events.

Next steps and implementation: Staff will complete design and coordinate any required trail connections with adjacent subdivisions, including neighborhood outreach with Bellwood and Bowood residents. The parks department also plans additional stream bank restoration work along Harmony Creek as funding allows.