City of Columbia breaks ground on park on former contaminated site in North Village

COLUMBIA Mo (KMIZ)

Columbia city officials will break ground Thursday on the city's newest park, located in the North Village area of the central city.

Officials from the Missouri Department of Economic Development, which put up half the money for the project to convert the formerly contaminated site on Orr Street to a park, will also be there.

The property on which the park will be built was an Ameren Missouri manufactured gas plant. It was deemed a contaminated Superfund site by the EPA and cleaned up in the 1990s.

When the city was voting to purchase the land, former mayor Brian Treece was the only vote in opposition, raising concerns about the site.

"I do have grave concerns about the risk we are transferring to the city and to taxpayers," Treece said in 2021.

The DED awarded the City of Columbia $1.25 million through Missouri's American Rescue Plan Act Community Revitalization grant program. The grant will be matched by funds generated by the voter-approved Park Sales Tax, for a total of $2.5 million spent by the city for this park.

Features of this park may include open green space, a playground, a performance area, outdoor art areas, a seating area and a walking trail.

Parks and recreation staff will hold public input meetings later this summer to receive feedback on the development of the park.

Check back for updates to this developing story.