Cosmo Park facts for kids

The Columbia Cosmopolitan Recreation Area, often called Cosmo Park, is a really big city park in Columbia, Missouri. It's the largest park in Columbia, covering about 533 acres (which is over 2 square kilometers!). Cosmo Park is also where the yearly Show-Me State Games take place, bringing lots of athletes together.

History of Cosmo Park

This large park was built on the land where the Columbia Municipal Airport used to be. The old airport runways were changed into parking lots for the park. If you look at aerial maps, you can still see the original layout of the airport!

Fun Activities at Cosmo Park

Cosmo Park offers many exciting things to do, especially if you love sports or being outdoors.

Sports and Games

Cosmo Park is a great place for many different sports.

L.A. Nickell Golf Course

You can play golf at the L.A. Nickell Golf Course. It has 18 holes and is a par 70 course. It's usually open all year, as long as the weather is good. You don't need special clothes to play here. You can also rent golf carts, practice at the driving range, or even take lessons to improve your game.

Columbia Skate Park

If you enjoy skateboarding, rollerblading, or riding scooters, check out the Columbia Skate Park. It's a huge skate park, about 28,000 square feet (2,600 square meters), and it opened in 1999.

More Sports Facilities

Cosmo Park has many other fields and courts for different sports:

• Antimi Sports Complex: This area has eight fields for baseball, softball, and tee-ball.
• Football fields: There are six fields for playing football.
• Horseshoe pits: You can find twelve pits for playing horseshoes.
• Remote control car track: A special track for racing remote control cars.
• Roller hockey rink: A rink designed for roller hockey.
• Soccer fields: There are nineteen soccer fields!
• Tennis courts: Eight courts for playing tennis.
• Volleyball courts: Six sand courts and one grass court for volleyball.

Trails for Exploring

Several trails wind through Cosmo Park, perfect for walking, biking, or enjoying nature.

Cosmo Nature Trail

This trail is 1.75 miles long and has a dirt surface. It goes through a beautiful wooded area and wetlands, where you can see different plants and animals.

Bear Creek Trail

The Bear Creek Trail is 4.8 miles long and made of limestone gravel. It follows Bear Creek and connects Cosmo Park to another park called Albert Oakland Park, which is 75 acres.

Cosmo Fitness Trail

This trail is 1.25 miles long and has a smooth asphalt surface. It's great for walkers, bikers, and skaters. Remember, no motorized vehicles are allowed on this trail.

Rhett's Run Mountain Bike Trail

If you like mountain biking, Rhett's Run is a 2.4-mile dirt trail designed just for mountain bikes.

Playground Fun

Cosmo Park also has a large playground. It was recently updated, so it's a fun and modern place for kids to play and climb.