FINLAY PARK RETURNS BETTER THAN EVER

FINLAY PARK RETURNS BETTER THAN EVER

The City of Columbia marked a major milestone on Saturday, November 15, 2025, as thousands of residents gathered to celebrate the highly anticipated grand re-opening of Finlay Park. The event began at 10:00 a.m. which served as both a dedication ceremony and homecoming for one of the city’s most iconic public spaces. Mayor Daniel J. Rickenmann, City Councilmembers, community leaders, and representatives from Mashburn Construction joined together on the new main stage to officially welcome the public back. Their remarks highlighted 2 years of planning, collaboration, and investment that made the transformation possible.

Celebration continued throughout the day with performances by the Jam Room Music Festival, filling the atmosphere with energy, music, and renewed civic pride. Visitors explored new amenities, from its vibrant playground and outdoor fitness center to the newly added pickleball courts that quickly became a crowd favorite. Guests also enjoyed the restored and expanded water features, which now flow alongside striking new art installations that bring color and character to the landscape. Adding to the excitement, children and adults alike were drawn to the custom turf slide, jungle gym, and a variety of activity areas created to engage enthusiasts of all ages.

Designed to accommodate 10,000 people, the 18.5-acre park’s revitalization represents one of Columbia’s most significant public space ventures in recent decades. The project was co-led by Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, in partnership with Civitas, a nationally recognized landscape architecture firm known for transformative park planning. “The community reimagined Finlay Park as a vibrant heartbeat for downtown- a place where community spirit and outdoor enjoyment come together,” said Stantec project manager and landscape architect, Jenny Horne. “It’s more than a park; it’s a canvas for connecting people to the outdoors and to one another.”

As the sun set on opening day and music continued into the evening, residents embraced Finlay Park’s new chapter and the return of a beloved gathering place in the heart of downtown Columbia.