City and foundation amp up Emily Douglas Park
By Natasha Whitling

Emily Douglas Park’s sloping sides make it a natural amphitheater.

Amid the renovations taking place at Hand Middle School, a plan is being discussed to give Emily Douglas Park a face lift and build an amphitheater that will serve both the community and the students. “I think this is a great idea as the park is a ‘natural’ amphitheater and will provide an opportunity for the school and the city to work together,” said Columbia City Councilwoman Anne Sinclair.

In June, a group meeting was held between the City of Columbia, the Hand Foundation, and the Shandon Neighborhood Council to discuss the development of a master plan.

The Hand foundation, a non–profit organization composed of parents of Hand Middle School students, initially wanted to construct the amphitheater on the school grounds, but with the new construction that was not feasible.

When Sinclair proposed the idea of using Emily Douglas Park, the members of the Hand Foundation jumped on the idea. “This amphitheater will serve many people in the community and be very useful for the school,” said Terry Sharpe, former president of the Hand Foundation. “Currently, the school has no venue large enough to accommodate the meeting of a full grade of students. The amphitheater would provide that place.”

Once a master plan is created, it will be presented to the neighborhoods surrounding the park for input. In its raw form, the plan for the amphitheater would resemble the one at the Riverwalk across the Gervais Street Bridge.

The natural surroundings will be preserved with only one dead tree to be removed. “This is something the neighborhood could use from time to time,” said Susan Lake of the Shandon Neighborhood Council. “It also may help with the erosion problem the park suffers from.”

The city has put out an RFP for the development of the master plan for the park and the amphitheater. The Parks and Recreation Foundation will share the cost with the Hand Foundation. “The contract will be on our agenda in a few weeks,” Sinclair said.

Photo by Natasha Whitling