City leaders and the Earlewood Community will celebrate the opening of the NOMA (North Main) Nature Trail at Earlewood Park (1111 Parkside Drive) at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 8, 2010. The ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at the entrance to the trail located near the corner of Earlewood Drive and Parkside Drive. A dog parade that leads the “official” first walk of the trail will immediately follow the ceremony.

There are four ways to enter the eight–tenths of a mile trail. Color–coded direction signs are located along each path entrance.

The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will kick off the Earlewood Centennial Reunion to be held all day on May 8, 2010. Earlwood Park includes an amphitheater, disc golf course, tennis courts, ball fields, and playground. Plans are underway for the NOMA Dog Park, a fenced area for the city’s four–legged residents, and Parks and Recreation’s new community and administration complex.

Funding sources for the nature trail include a $100,000 grant from the South Carolina Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. The new trail and upgrades are expected to increase use of the park.

The City of Columbia has 56 city parks and green spaces, approximately 600 acres of city–maintained park land, 16 city pools, spray pads and ponds, and 9 citymaintained fountains. Columbia’s neighborhood, community, regional, and specialty parks offer features and amenities for groups of all sizes and users of all ages and interests. Visit www.columbiasc.net/parksandrec.