New Douglass Park basketball courts open with revised design after community input

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Douglass Park basketball courts are now open after being under renovation since February 2025.

The court's new design has each court highlighting an important part of the park's history. Both courts are painted blue and gray; the west court includes "Douglass Bulldogs" on each baseline, while the east court includes "Moonlight Hoops – Est. 1989."

Anthony Johnson, a Columbia resident who was vocal throughout the discussions about ensuring the park's history was preserved through the new design, said it is empowering to have your voice heard.

"When the community feels so strong about something, and it's sort of a unifying theme, it's really empowering just to get everybody in the room on the same record," Johnson said.

He added that he was grateful to have city staff who were open to feedback and willing to make adjustments.

The city had discussed changing the basketball courts since 2023. It was announced in 2023 that the courts would honor Willie Cox, a former assistant coach of the University of Missouri women’s basketball team who died in 2019.

Residents had voiced concerns about the design and name of the court. After holding community feedback meetings, a year later, the Columbia City Council approved the current design.

Johnson said the court holds symbolism for the community.

"A lot of times we don't feel heard or felt. So if we come together and collaborate, we can be heard; you know, we do have power, we do have choices," Johnson said.

He said that when he saw the original design, with the University of Missouri logo, it felt like a slap in the face.

"That's not like an anti-Mizzou thing; it's just the fact that there's so much history here and then just, you know, branded as something completely," Johnson said.

Johnson said he will continue to fight for improvements at Douglass Park.