Public Communications serves as a communications link between the city of Columbia’s municipal government and the citizens. The Public Communications Office coordinates several programs that are designed to link citizens with their city government.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Toni Messina
Director, Public Communications
573-874-7660

Mike Hood, Director
Parks and Recreation
573-874-7463

Mayor Names Citizens Committee to Support Extension of Local Parks Sales Tax

COLUMBIA, MO (September 8, 2010) - Mayor Bob McDavid last night announced the appointment of “Friends of Columbia’s Parks,” a citizens committee formed to support extension of the city’s one-eighth cent parks sales tax. If approved by voters at the November 2, 2010 election, extending the tax will raise about $12 million over five years for local parks, trails and recreation facilities.

“Former Mayor Mary Anne McCollum and Columbia Daily Tribune Publisher Vicki Russell will co-chair the Friends group. Boone County National Bank President Steve Erdel will serve as treasurer,” McDavid said. “I called upon them because, over the years, they’ve demonstrated their leadership and commitment to making Columbia a wonderful place to live.”

The committee will hold an organizational meeting on Thursday, September 9, starting at 7 p.m. in Conference Room 1A, City Hall, 701 E. Broadway.

At this time other committee members include: Tom Atkins; Marin Blevins; Sue Davis; Dan Devine; Meridith Donaldson; Kee Groshong; former Mayor Darwin Hindman; Linda Hutton; Karl Kruse; Tom Mendenhall; Joe Moseley; Clyde Ruffin; and Mike Vangel. Additional appointments may be confirmed later.

“We treasure our parks and green space in Columbia,” McDavid said, “and we can see all around us the wisdom of voters who have supported this tax. They created a legacy that we can extend for our kids and grandkids.”

Columbia voters first approved a dedicated, one-quarter cent sales tax for parks in 2000. Half (one-eighth) was intended to be permanently available for parkland purchase, development and operations, and the other, renewable one-eighth was set to expire five years later.

Voters extended the renewable one-eighth cent sales tax in 2005 and have that option again, this November. Planned expenditures over five years are shown below.

Land acquisition and preservation	$2,025,000
Land for community parks, greenbelts, green space, wildlife corridors and for preserving natural areas	$1,525,000
Land for new neighborhood parks (amount up to)	$ 500,000
Improvements to existing parks	$4,765,000
Annual – roads and parking	$ 750,000
Annual joint City/Schools playground projects	$ 125,000
Annual park major maintenance	$ 600,000
Albert-Oakland Park – new restroom, athletic field renovations	$ 275,000
Armory – renovate activity/meeting room flooring	$ 75,000
Atkins Park, Phase 2 – restrooms, concession, field	$ 850,000
Cosmo-Bethel Park – Tennis court lights, trail	$ 150,000
Cosmo Park – football/lacrosse field renovations, new restroom soccer/football fields, Steinberg Playground renovation	$ 775,000
Douglass Park – playground renovation, fitness stations	$ 100,000
Downtown Optimist Park renovation	$ 50,000
Fairview Park – shelter replacement, playground, parking	$ 175,000
Nifong Park – Maplewood Barn, parking	$ 200,000
Shepard Boulevard tennis court renovation	$ 75,000
Trail restroom improvements – Garth, Grindstone, MLK	$ 315,000
Twin Lakes Recreation Area improvements	$ 250,000
Trails and greenbelts	$2,070,000
Grindstone Trail development – from Grindstone Nature Area to the Confluence	$1,570,000
Annual trail improvements – major maintenance	$ 500,000
New facility/park development	$2,540,000
Barberry Neighborhood Park	$ 125,000
Jay Dix Neighborhood Park	$ 125,000
Strawn Road Neighborhood Park	$ 125,000
Gans Creek Recreation Area/Philips Park – Phase 1	$1,750,000
Norma Sutherland Smith Park – Phase 1	$ 250,000
Waters – Moss Park – Phase 1	$ 165,000
Contingency	$ 600,000
Total, five-year park sales tax projects	$12,000,000

For more information, visit www.GoColumbiaMo.com.

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