Columbia Unveils Plans for 96-Acre Riverfront Park

Conceptual designs for a Congaree River park include trails, a kayak launch, a pedestrian bridge and an observation tower.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in National Parks

Wide view of a slow river bend lined with hardwood trees, a red-clay bank, and a timber footbridge crossing the water under soft morning haze. — City leaders and design firm Field Operations unveiled conceptual plans Nov. 2 for a 96-acre Congaree River park with trails, a kayak launch, a pedestrian bridge and an observation tower. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you support Columbia building the new 96-acre riverfront park?

City leaders and design firm Field Operations presented conceptual site plans for a 96-acre park on the Congaree River at a November 2 public input meeting attended by more than 100 people. The designs incorporate a year of feedback from stakeholders and residents.

Why it matters

The park is designed to give Columbia residents new riverfront public space and connections to the Three Rivers Greenway. Its maintenance is planned to be funded by tax revenue from future development around the site.

At a public input meeting attended by more than 100 people, residents' poll votes favored greenway pathway construction at 60 percent, ahead of the Williams Street overlook at 34 percent and the main river overlook at 32 percent. Whether the design will change after approval is not yet known, since Field Operations will spend at least 12 months refining it.

The players

Field Operations

Field Operations is a design firm working with the city to develop the conceptual plans for the riverfront park.

Boyd Foundation

The Boyd Foundation is a philanthropic partner of the city in developing the riverfront park.

University of South Carolina

The University of South Carolina is a partner in developing the park alongside the USC Development Foundation.

The details

Residents completed an online survey at the meeting to prioritize park features and submitted written comments that shaped the plans. The conceptual designs include trails, seating areas, open spaces, a kayak launch, art installations, a pedestrian bridge, a playground, an observation tower and an interpretive center, while Williams Street is being extended along the park's future boundary.

November 2, 2026: Public input meeting presents conceptual park designs.
November 12, 2026: Planning commission vote on the conceptual plans.
End of 2026: First City Council approval vote is expected.
January 2027: Williams Street extension construction is expected to begin.

Big Picture

The riverfront park is designed to connect directly to the existing Three Rivers Greenway, extending that trail network to the Congaree River in Columbia. Residents' strong preference for greenway pathways, at 60 percent of poll votes, signals that continuing the greenway is the community's top priority for the site.

Residents who want to weigh in can follow the November 12, 2026 planning commission vote and later City Council meetings as the plans move toward approval. Those who use Huger Street or the Hyatt Park/Keenan Terrace area should note that the Williams Street extension is expected to begin construction in January 2027.

The takeaway

Columbia's riverfront park plan shows that resident feedback can meaningfully shape a major public project, with greenway connections ranking as the community's clear priority. Keeping an eye on the upcoming planning commission and Council votes is the best way to follow how the design evolves.

What happens next

The city planning commission will vote on the conceptual plans on November 12, 2026, and City Council's first approval vote is expected before the end of 2026. Williams Street extension construction is expected to begin in January 2027.