Columbia Cosmopolitan Recreation Area, commonly referred to as Cosmo Park, is a city park in Columbia, Missouri. At ,Cosmopolitan Recreation Area
/ref> it is the largest park in Columbia. It is also the location of the annual

Show-Me State Games The Show-Me State Games (SMSG) is an Olympic-style competition for amateur athletes in the U.S. state of Missouri, held in the city of Columbia. The SMSG is the largest state games in the United States. The SMSG is a member of the National Congre ...

History

The park is built on the location of the former Columbia Municipal Airport. The runways were rebuilt as parking lots, and the old layout of the airport can be seen in aerial imagery. On September 17, 2007, the park was proposed as a possible location for Columbia's third high school. On October 10, 2007 City Council rejected this proposal.

Activities in the park

Sports

L.A. Nickell Golf Course The park features a par 70, 18-hole

golf course A golf course is the grounds on which the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a tee box, a fairway, the rough and other hazards, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the ground, known as a "cup". The ...

that is open year-round (weather permitting). The course has no formal dress code; golf carts, a

driving range A driving range is a facility or area where golfers can practice their golf swing. It can also be a recreational activity itself for amateur golfers or when enough time for a full game is not available. Many golf courses have a driving range att ...

, and lessons are all available. Columbia Skate Park The park contains a skate park that was opened in 1999. The skate park was built with the help of skateboarders and inline skaters.Skate Park History
/ref> Additional sports facilities available: * Antimi Sports Complex - eight

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding ...

softball Softball is a game similar to baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Softball is played competitively at club levels, the college level, and the professional level. The game was first created in 1887 in Chicago by George Hanc ...

/ tee-ball fields. * Football fields - six * Horseshoe pits - twelve * Remote control car track * Roller hockey rink * Soccer fields - nineteen * Tennis courts - eight * Volleyball courts - six sand, one grass

Trails

Several trails wind through the park: * Cosmo Nature Trail - (1.75 miles, dirt). This trail wanders through a heavily wooded nature area and wetlands. * Bear Creek Trail - (4.8 miles, limestone gravel). This trail runs along Bear Creek and connects the park to the Albert Oakland Park. * Cosmo Fitness Trail - (1.25 Miles, asphalt). A hard surface trail open to walkers, bikers, and skaters (no motorized vehicles). * Rhett's Run Mountain Bike Trail - (2.4 miles, dirt). A mountain bike course. Playground The park features a sizable playground, which was renovated in the last few years.

References

External links

Columbia Cosmopolitan Recreation Area official site
{{coord, 38.973523, -92.363048, region:US_type:landmark, display=title Parks in Missouri Parks in Columbia, Missouri Protected areas of Boone County, Missouri Tourist attractions in Columbia, Missouri Sports in Columbia, Missouri