City officials are mulling fees for the use of Bluff Street Park similar to the ones charged by the county to use facilities at the Columbia Water Park.
Mayor Justin McKenzie said during a special meeting Nov. 27 that the city was recently approached by someone who wanted to use the park for a wedding, setting up everything in the park, located along the banks of the Pearl River. The discussions had the mayor thinking about people that might want to reserve the park for anything from a wedding to a concert or event.
“I think there should be a fee so that everyone isn’t just going out there and throwing some kind of shindig and leaving it a mess,” the mayor said. “We discussed it around the office this morning and we thought that if someone is going to have some type of event, we charge $25 per hour for use of the park. They would have full reign of Bluff Street Park if they reserve it in advance.”
Ward 2 Alderman Mike Smith said the city could also include a deposit to ensure the park was cleaned by those who had events there. The deposit would be refundable after the park had been inspected.
Alderman-at-Large Edward Hough questioned charging for use of the park when City Park is first come-first serve.
“The county began charging out at the Water Park and it cut out a lot of stuff, a lot of cleanup when people left things,” McKenzie said. “You cannot use the pavilion or the small pavilion in the back unless you reserve it. They are booked all the time, and look at the improvements they’ve been able to make with the money from the Pearl River Basin and the fees. If we’re going to make any of these improvements to Bluff Street Park, we’re going to have to find a way to generate income. If you want to go have a picnic, that’s free to you. If you’re going to have some type of event like a wedding or a concert we need to look at a fee. If you want to walk around and watch the sunset on the river, of course that’s free.
City Attorney Lawrence Hahn said the city could develop a form for people who wanted to reserve the park with the rules and fees on it. Hough said he would love to see restrooms and a storage facility for tables or chairs build on the site. McKenzie said developing the park could be part of a much bigger plan for the waterfront along the Pearl River. McKenzie asked the board to consider what they would charge and the circumstances for the charges. The board will continue the discussions at a future meeting.
Pictured Above: The City of Columbia is considering usage fees for Bluff Park in order to raise funds for improvements to the area. | Photo by Wright Nichols
