Officials plan Reed Creek park expansion

Columbia County officials want to get the public closer to nature -- literally.

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Consultants and officials plan to extend the boardwalk at Reed Creek Wetlands Park 1,080 feet, and lower it about two feet closer to the ground than the current boardwalk.

"So you'll be more in touch with nature," Columbia County Community and Leisure Services Director Barry Smith said.

The boardwalk extension will rise to about 24 inches off the ground, Smith said. It will include safety bumpers and will be handicap accessible.

"It will go ... deeper in the wetland and it then will go toward Reed Creek proper before coming all the way back to the building (Reed Creek Interpretive Center)," Smith said.

Smith estimated construction cost for the extension at $515,000, which will be paid for by using 1-cent sales tax funds.

Construction might start in September.

Once the boardwalk extension is complete, county officials likely will start plans for another construction phase at the wetlands park.

Future construction projects at the site might include building an outdoor classroom and extending the boardwalk over Reed Creek to connect to planned walking trails on a 36-acre tract.