Gans Creek Recreation Area Explained

Gans Creek Recreation Area
Map:USA Missouri#USA
Coordinates:38.8908°N -92.2869°W
Area:320 acres (1.29 km2)
Nearest City:Columbia, Missouri

The Gans Creek Recreation Area is a 320-acre public park in Columbia, Missouri, United States. Its name derives from Gans Creek, which flows through the property. It borders the Rock Bridge Memorial State Park on its western edge. The park is owned by the City of Columbia and operated by the Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation.

History

The Gans Creek Recreation Area was acquired by the City of Columbia on September 14, 2007 for $8 million. It was named on July 21, 2008.[1] The area purchased was forest and former pasture land, including a home. The limestone bedrock has formed karst topography, most notably Elbow Cave.

On October 7, 2013, the city council of Columbia approved the development of 50-acres to build a park on the property. On May 3, 2010 the city council approved a plan to build seven multipurpose fields, athletic fields for baseball and softball, a dog park, and a playground, along with other amenities.[2] [3] By 2016, only five multipurpose fields had been constructed.[4] Talks of building a cross country complex within Columbia occurred in the 2000s and the Gans Creek Recreation Area was selected as the site.[5] Construction of the complex began in 2018.[6]

Activities

Cross country

The Gans Creek Recreation Area holds the Gans Creek Cross Country Course. It features a 500-meter straightaway at the start and two different sized loops, one 2 km and the other 3 km. The University of Missouri uses the track as its home cross country course.[7]

Championships

The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA), chose to move its cross country state championship meet to Gans Creek beginning in 2019.[8] The high school state course had previously been located at Oak Hills Golf Center, in Jefferson City, since 1982.[9]

The course will host the 2025 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships.

Other

Gans Creek Recreation Area has five multipurpose fields that can be used for soccer, lacrosse, or ultimate frisbee.[10]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Southeast Regional Park History. Columbia Parks and Recreation. en. 2020-01-18.
  2. Web site: Columbia City Council approves construction of Gans Creek park. Aton. Adam. Columbia Missourian. en. 2020-01-19.
  3. Web site: 2010 Southeast Regional Park Master Plan. 27 Jan 2020.
  4. Web site: Columbia cross country course in the works. Jones. Daniel. Columbia Daily Tribune. en. 2020-01-28.
  5. Web site: Mizzou Cross Country and City of Columbia to Unveil New Gans Creek Cross Country Course. University of Missouri Athletics. en. 2020-01-28.
  6. Web site: Missouri cross country completes first practice at new Gans Creek Course. Kimball. Anderson. Columbia Missourian. en. 2020-01-19.
  7. Web site: Gans Creek Recreation Area. Columbia Parks and Recreation. en. 2020-01-28.
  8. Web site: MSHSAA moves championship locations for cross country, baseball. Embree. Chuck. Moberly Monitor-Index - Moberly, MO. en. 2020-01-19.
  9. Book: 68th Boys, 39th Girls Cross Country Championships. Missouri State High School Activities Association. 2017. Jefferson City, Missouri. 20.
  10. Web site: Gans Multipurpose Athletic Fields Directory. Columbia Parks and Recreation. en. 2020-01-19.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Gans Creek Recreation Area".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.