Parking lot among discussed improvements for Indian Hills Park

COLUMBIA — Residents of Indian Hills met Thursday night to revise a plan to develop Indian Hills Park.

A $130,000 budget for the improvements will come from a park sales tax, according to the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department's Web site. The proposed plan would use around $80,000 to develop the east side of the park and the remaining funds would be used on the west side.

The 18-hole disc golf course prompted the discussion of building a small parking lot or cul-de-sac on the east side. Alex Dadant, a frequent user of the disc golf course, said the parking lot would be a good choice. Since there is no parking lot on that side of the park, Dadant parks his car on the street.

"It would be nice to get off the street and into a parking lot," he said. "It would be less intrusive on the neighborhood."

Mike Snyder, a senior parks planner, said the Parks and Recreation Department is considering improvements to the playground and basketball court on the west side of the park and is considering building a dog park or a new gravel parking lot.

Some neighbors of the park expressed concern about the development on the east side because it might attract loiterers. Vandalism occurred in their area in the past, they said, and they were worried that a new parking lot will lead to its reappearance.

Amanda Booloodian lives near the east side of the park and would prefer improvements to the west side first.

"I think it's great they're fixing the things they already have," Booloodian said.

The proposed plan will go to the Park Commission, where the public can further discuss it, and then to the City Council.