Columbia’s Discovery Parkway expansion is in full swing
Discovery Parkway in south Columbia is growing quickly with the addition of a hospital, sports park, medical isotope facility and restaurant.
Jack Cardetti, a spokesman for landowners in the area, said the expansion of Discovery Parkway has a great economic impact on Columbia.
“It is going to be tremendous and will only grow in the months and years ahead,” he said.
Cardetti said Discovery Parkway is a convenient location to expand Landmark Hospital.
“At the end of the day Columbia is a health care town,” he said. “One of the reasons it is such a great place to live, work and raise a family is great access to quality healthcare.”
Landmark Hospital
Discovery Park Landmark Hospital is on the Columbia City Council’s Monday night agenda. Planning and zoning has already approved the hospital.
Laura Peckham, CEO of Landmark Hospitals of Columbia said the site would serve as an expansion of the current facility at 603 Old 63 in Columbia.
The current building holds two hospitals, one specializing in rehabilitation and the other in specialty care, Peckham said. The specialty care hospital would move to the new building off of Discovery Parkway.
Sports park
Construction on Philips Park Sports Fieldhouse off of Discovery Parkway is expected expected to finish by this spring, according to Parks and Recreation Spokesperson Tammy Miller. The project is budgeted for $5.5 million.
Medical isotope facility
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved construction for a medical isotope facility to be built off Discovery Parkway in the University of Missouri System-owned Discovery Ridge.
The Boone County Commission granted the facility a 10-year property tax break through Chapter 100 bonds. The medical isotope facility is expected to about 100 jobs.
The medical isotope facility can create radioactive material used to help detect disease in the kidney’s, lungs, heart and bones.
Restaurant
A new restaurant, Park Restaurant & Bar, is almost finished with construction and is expected to open off of Discovery Parkway in less than a month.
In recent years Aria Apartments and TownePlace Suites by Marriott Columbia were built off Discovery Parkway.
