Last year, the City of Columbia extended an open call to private corporations to present a proposal for an overhaul of Finlay Park at 930 Laurel St. – which was once a postcard-worthy park with an iconic (and functional) fountain in the city center – but now sits widely unused.
Only one company came to the city with a solution: Whitewater Holdings LLC – a.k.a. the company behind The U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C. (a 1,300-acre outdoor adventure facility with mountain biking, ziplining, paddleboarding, whitewater rafting, rock climbing + more). On Dec. 18, 2018, City Council approved the Whitewater Center’s proposal, agreeing to collaborate on and invest in a redesign + revamp of Finlay Park.
Mayor Steve Benjamin stated to Free Times that he envisions a public-private development, featuring a hotel, residential properties + and an “outdoor attraction”.
...but just exactly what this “outdoor attraction” will be is currently unknown.
We asked you on Instagram, Facebook + Twitter to tell us what you want to see built by the Whitewater Center in Finlay Park – and here’s what a few of you said:
“Rock climbing, high and low ropes course. Places to hang a hammock.” –@nikkirob22
“Skatepark” –@bentonrice
“I’d love to see an outdoor concert arena that would allow Columbia to host a summer music festival. 🎶” –@mrs_karen_smith
“Lazy river with frozen drinks!” –@nikkikuhlen
“Off-leash dog park area with a water feature for the pups to play in during the hot summers!” –@hoodlf
Read all 48 of your comments on Finlay Park + Whitewater Center ideas – then vote on which idea you’d like to see in the park.
More of what you want to see in Finlay Park:
“Outdoor climbing wall or mtn bike trails !! 😊🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻” –@olivia.webb27
“The whole shabang 🙌🏻” –@__andrewgriffin
“Mountain biking trails and a ropes course” –@derf_21
“I’d like to see the rock wall and pool, just like the picture” –@rebecca_s_norris
“Climbing wall for sure! There are like zero climbing opportunities here other than Strom. Augusta, Charleston, and Charlotte all have climbing gyms.” –@mousy_aesthete
“DISC GOLF AND A ROCK CLIMBING WALL!!!! 😍😍😍” –@kat_astrophyyy
“This would be FANTASTIC. Based on the national recognition of the USNWC, I’m sure they’d put together something excellent. Def an opportunity to fill a niche in a Columbia (e.g., for rock climbers and outdoor enthusiasts)!” –@elliegwu
“@colatoday the space in CLT is just too amazing to replicate in that space but if they’re just doing the rope courses or one or two other things that might be perfect” –@thatredhott
“#wavepool @ellisonpearce” –@_jacob_thompson
“Climbing climbing climbing.” –@ktleitner
“Trails to ride 4wheelers and gators! Or an outdoor concert and event venue!” –@whatthemomblog
“Dog. Park. Can we all agree there are no legit dog parks in Columbia?” –@fwbradley
“I like this rock climbing rope swing zipline idea👍🏽” –@chrisgotta100rounds
“Do something like @chicago‘s @maggie.daley.park!!!” –@johntengkyou
“One of those boarding wave things like the cruises have.” –@withthesehandsfoods
“Rock climbing, live music, and a place to hang a hammock!” –@leeisnotchinese
“Bouldering and a smooth roller skating path, please!” –@dawn.cookie
“Something similar to TD Stage in Greenville...definitely need a cool music venue here and not just in Lexington!” –@gamecockgirl76
“Very cool. Some type of business that brings the city a good return on investment, creates jobs, and is a good steward for the community is what is needed. That park used to be quite the attraction back in the 90s and early 2000s. Would be awesome if the Whitewater Center incorporated a modern amphitheater of some sort, space permitting.” –@gregorycommercialsc
“@maggie.daley.park” –@katekatbar_yum
“honestly just a safely designed park with a better police presence” –@the_master_brownie
“@nikkirob22 agree with the rock climbing, ropes courses and hammocks!!” –@colleen_marieeee
“Yes, I agree with just a safe park that I don’t have to pay tons of money for. Just want an outdoor space to run/bike/just picnic @christianantley what do you think?” –@findyara
“Rock climbing would be amazing! Slackline posts!” –@maddawg_89
“Lazy river and a pool with a stage right in the middle where musicians perform. also some jacuzzis” –@alasha12
“Amphitheater for live music. Brings revenue” –@ellisonpearce
“I work across the street and would love to see what they would do about parking regardless what they make it” –@emilyannofficial
“Something similar to the White Water Park would be perfect! Somewhere for outdoor activities, concerts, dogs, beers, etc. That would be great for Columbia! Also! If Columbia could adopt some ideas from @swamprabbittrail in Greenville to create an urban bike trail that would be a great addition to Cola!” –@arbydeal
“This is a great idea - columbia doesn’t have nearly enough centralized outdoor rec opportunities.” –@windsor.phil
“We NEED rock climbing in Columbia!” –@antigreeneggsandsam
“Anything as long as they don’t block the view!!” –@robertcarter
“Concert venue and parking for the venue. Period. It was that way years ago and could return!!” –@tequila_tiger9
“Bring back the café & the fountain. Also, bring back the outdoor concerts. That much green space shouldn’t be left neglected.” –Milton T.
“Rock walls! We need climbing space!” –Sasha H.
“So much space!!! So much opportunity!!!!! Treehouses would be cool!!! Outdoor space with group fitness options would be stellar!” –Maudra B.
“We need a good rock wall facility!!” –Emily M.
“Does a brewery count as an outdoor attraction” –Alaina H.
“Cola needs a water park that is accessible!” –Mandy O.
“Whatever it is, hopefully, it will be fun and *inexpensive* especially for families.” –Lauren G.
“a fishing pond for the little kids, a place to take pic for special events man-made waterfall, a water park for the little ones so the parents can sit with them, set aside for a stop for the dogs to play in the water and play with other nice dogs” –Cindy M.
“Doubt if a rock wall will bring that much attraction. A water park, on the other hand…” –Steve W.
“Climbing rocks & walls plus a water feature for boaters & SUPers!” –@lorieno
“How about an urban gym, kinda like the one at Riverfront Park?” –@Opa_opa_yall
“Any of the features that @usnwc had would be an excellent addition to #FinlayPark but I would love to see a rock wall or mountain bike trails.” –@rgtrevolt
Now, vote for what you want to see in Finlay Park:
Didn’t see your idea for what you want the U.S. National Whitewater Center to develop in Finlay Park on our poll? Reply to this email or drop a comment on our Instagram or Facebook post.
Here’s to going with the flow in 2019,
