| Columbia’s vast open spaces
– lakes, parks and pathways – are
a great way to enjoy the great outdoors.
In keeping with the vision that Columbia be
a beautiful environment for its residents and
infuse nature into the lives of all who visit
and live here, the Columbia Association maintains
more than 3,400 acres of open space, including
265 footbridges, 170 tot lots, the 40-acre Symphony
Woods, 40 ponds and lakes, and natural open
space areas, interlaced by more than 93 miles
of pathways for walking, biking and jogging.
Together with plazas, picnic areas, public areas,
tennis courts and two par course fitness trails,
Columbia’s inviting outdoor spaces are calling
your name. The Columbia Association offers a pathway
map – available from your Village Association
or the Welcome Center.
The Columbia Association Open Space Management
team plans, develops, manages and maintains Columbia’s
impressive green spaces. In addition, each village
has an Open Space Committee, made up of community
volunteers, who assist CA in managing the appearance
of the village’s open spaces. To participate,
contact your village office. For further information,
please call CA Open Space Management at (410)
312-6330.
Open
Space Management
Columbia is a place where we believe it is important to ensure the land is respected and its ponds and lakes are maintained as pristine community gathering spots. To ensure the beauty of these lakes for the future, an initiative was developed to carry out needed dredging.
The CA Board approved $5 million in the FY 2007 budget to supplement existing funds for dredging Lake Kittamaqundi and restoring the Little Patuxent River. Dredging Lake Kittamaqundi will restore its recreational, environmental and aesthetic value, and restoration of the Little Patuxent River will reduce overflows, prevent sedimentation and probable convergence of the lake and river.
The 2007 budget also designates $1.7 million to supplement existing funds for dredging Lake Elkhorn, including the forebay pond and spillway that have lost their environmental integrity and overall aesthetics due to heavy sedimentation.
In support of CA’s efforts to maintain the water quality of our lakes and ponds, the General Assembly approved $475,000 in the state’s budget, and Howard County Government approved $100,000, for dredging Lake Kittamaqundi. Columbia’s lakes collect sediment from throughout Howard County and keep it from traveling downstream to harm the Chesapeake Bay.
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