Gans Creek Recreation Area
| Gans Creek Recreation Area | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Elbow Cave | |
  Location in Missouri  Gans Creek Recreation Area (the United States) | |
| Nearest city | Columbia, Missouri |
| Coordinates | 38°53′27″N 92°17′13″W / 38.89083°N 92.28694°W |
| Area | 320 acres (1.29 km2) |
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 operate 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 between Mizzou's track and field coach, Brett Halter, and the director of Columbia Parks and Recreation, Mike Griggs. Eventually, 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]
In 2021, the site will host the SEC Cross Country Conference Championships. It will be the first time the University of Missouri will have held the Conference Championships since it joined the SEC.[10]
Other
Gans Creek Recreation Area has five multipurpose fields that can be used for soccer, lacrosse, or ultimate frisbee.[11]
References
- ^ "Southeast Regional Park History". Columbia Parks and Recreation. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
- ^ Aton, Adam. "Columbia City Council approves construction of Gans Creek park". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
- ^ "2010 Southeast Regional Park Master Plan" (PDF). Retrieved 27 Jan 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Jones, Daniel. "Columbia cross country course in the works". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "Mizzou Cross Country and City of Columbia to Unveil New Gans Creek Cross Country Course". University of Missouri Athletics. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ Kimball, Anderson. "Missouri cross country completes first practice at new Gans Creek Course". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
- ^ "Gans Creek Recreation Area". Columbia Parks and Recreation. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ Embree, Chuck. "MSHSAA moves championship locations for cross country, baseball". Moberly Monitor-Index - Moberly, MO. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
- ^ 68th Boys, 39th Girls Cross Country Championships. Jefferson City, Missouri: Missouri State High School Activities Association. 2017. p. 20.
- ^ "Mizzou Cross Country and City of Columbia to Unveil New Gans Creek Cross Country Course". University of Missouri Athletics. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
- ^ "Gans Multipurpose Athletic Fields Directory". Columbia Parks and Recreation. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
External links
- Gans Creek Recreation Area Columbia Parks and Recreation
