Hickory Ridge Requests Funds for Park, Bocce Courts

A 3-acre lot next to Hickory Ridge’s Village Center may become a park with a gazebo, two picnic pavilions and bocce courts, if approved by Columbia Association.

Representatives of the Hickory Ridge Community Association pitched the plan to CA’s board of directors at their meeting on Thursday night.

“We want to continue to draw people to the center,” said Joan Lancos, land use liaison for Hickory Ridge, on Friday. “It’s a positive use, we weren’t looking for a big structure, we would just like to have a CA presence at the Village Center.”

In an artist’s rendering presented to the board, the park would consist of two picnic pavilions, a lighted gazebo, a small playground, a chess area and two bocce courts surrounding a multi-use play field, all of which would be encircled by a pathway.

The total cost of the park’s construction is estimated to be $1.4 million, according to a letter written by Hickory Ridge’s village manager, Jessamine Duvall, to CA. That cost would be spread out over two CA budget cycles—$800,000 included in the Fiscal Year 2014 budget to develop the site and build bocce courts, the play area and a majority of the pathway. The other $600,000 would be added to the Fiscal Year 2015 budget to finish the pathway, create a chess table area and build the two pavilions, according to Duvall’s letter.

“The proposed ‘Gathering Place’ at the Hickory Ridge Village Center includes amenities that would benefit not only the residents of Hickory Ridge, but all residents of Columbia,” wrote Duvall.

Lancos said CA recommended adding the bocce courts during the planning process and that a budding league, written about in Explore Howard, would be interested in using the courts.

Currently, Howard County is home to two bocce courts at Cedar Lane Park, but those courts are smaller than regulation courts and may need to be resurfaced, according to Explore Howard.

CA board member and local blogger Tom Coale wrote on Friday, “I am hopeful that this project can be incorporated, and honestly believe it will be.”

What do you think of the plan for the park? 

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