City of Forest Acres Releases Conceptual Masterplan of Mall Park
Forest Acres City Council was presented with a conceptual master plan for the city’s new park, set to be built on the former Richland Mall site.
Once completed, the six-acre landmark park along Forest Drive will be the largest in the city’s park portfolio. The council has tasked designers with creating a green space abundant with nature, featuring swings, sitting areas, a pavilion, and grassy lawns. A key highlight will be an amphitheater, along with an event space that will also serve as a venue for the city’s farmers’ market, and a playground for young families.
In addition, a walking path will be constructed along Pen Branch Creek, which has been hidden beneath the mall for decades.
“This is an ambitious plan, one that reflects the vision our residents have shared with us,” said Mayor Thomas Andrews. “The council’s goal is to create a park that complements the adjacent development to help ensure that both flourish.”
After a series of public input sessions and meetings with city council, the park concept was developed by The LandPlan Group South, a landscape architecture firm based in downtown Columbia. LandPlan will now incorporate feedback from today’s council meeting to finalize the master plan.
Once the final plan is approved, an additional 12 months will be needed for site engineering and the creation of construction documents, so the project can go out for bid to contractors.
“We’re approximately a year away from fully understanding what we can achieve within the park’s budget,” said Mayor Andrews. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a gathering place that fosters a true sense of community — something our residents in Forest Acres have expressed they deeply desire. A space for friends, family, and neighbors to come together outdoors. The council is focused on ensuring we deliver a great park as well as the best value for every public dollar spent.”
Andrews also noted that site and market conditions could influence which features are ultimately included when construction begins.
The park, yet to be named, is considered a transformative project for the community, with an estimated completion cost of $15 million.
Southeastern Development LLC owns the adjacent mall site which they are in the process of demolishing. Southeastern plans a mixed-use development across nearly 25 acres that will include a mix of residential and retail space, a large grocery store and a brewery.