New Columbia park could be built on Perche Creek

The park would offer canoeing, kayaking, soccer and baseball.

By Ryan Schmitz

Published Feb. 26, 2009

Citizens could be allowed to float down Perche Creek on canoes and kayaks if a proposal is approved by the Columbia City Council.

At its Feb. 16 meeting, the council transferred control of the site of a former wastewater treatment plant on the city's west side to the Parks and Recreation Department. Located west of Strawn Road and south of Interstate 70, the park would serve residents of the King's Meadow and Bellwood neighborhoods. The latter is still under development.

The Columbia Public Works Department no longer uses the Old Perche Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the land is used for deer archery hunting.

Mayor Darwin Hindman introduced the idea of boats on the creek in a meeting last October.

"We need a park in that area," he said. "We have the Perche Creek Trail for biking and walking, and this park would be at the top of the Perche Creek Trail, going down to the MKT Trail. People could kayak or canoe down the creek, and then walk or bike back up."

Given the economic recession affecting most of the nation, Hindman said the plan is far from finalized, and that substantial action would not commence until Columbia's economy becomes more stable.

"I'm not suggesting we move right now," he said. "We have adopted a map of the city parks, including the Perche Creek Trail. Boating is just an interesting idea I set up as a possibility for the city."

Henry Warren, president of the King's Meadow Neighborhood Association near Perche Creek, supports the idea and believes the project would help his neighborhood.

"I think it would be a benefit," Warren said. "This park would have a lot more than just canoeing and kayaking, including practice fields for baseball and soccer."

Although his area would receive no financial compensation from the city-owned park, Warren likes the possibility for outdoor activities near his neighborhood.

"This would provide great recreation," he said. "Right now, we only have one small area for soccer practice connected to a local school, but it's not full-size. This project would provide practice fields for soccer and baseball, and get more youth involved in canoeing and kayaking."

Warren said the city would have to address the irregular water levels in the creek throughout the year.

"There's not much water in the creek right now," he said. "If you walked in the middle, you wouldn't get your knees wet. The only possible drawback I see is that this area is prone to flooding."

Regarding the fluctuating creek stages, Hindman said the city has not yet made a concrete plan to maintain consistent water levels. Although weather would impact the project at certain times throughout the year, kayaks and canoes could float down during most months.

"We haven't worked out the details about the amount of water," he said. "Sometimes it would be un-floatable. Nature is going to do its thing, but kayaking and canoeing would be probably be available most of the time."