Cosmo Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Columbia Cosmopolitan Recreation Area
Type	Public Park
Location	Columbia, Missouri
Area	533 acres (2.16 km2)
Operated by	Columbia Parks and Recreation

Columbia Cosmopolitan Recreation Area, commonly referred to as Cosmo Park, is a city park in Columbia, Missouri. At 533 acres (2.16 km²), it is the largest park in Columbia. It is also the location of the annual Show-Me State Games.

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.

Activities in the park

Sports

L.A. Nickell Golf Course

The park features a par 70, 18-hole golf course that is open year-round (weather permitting). The course has no formal dress code; golf carts, a driving range, and lessons are all available.

Columbia Skate Park

The park contains a 28,000-square-foot (2,600 m²) skate park that was opened in 1999.

Additional sports facilities available:

• Antimi Sports Complex - eight baseball/softball/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 75-acre (300,000 m²) 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.