Enjoy Earlewood Outdoors
In the midst of our busy lives in a city neighborhood, we are fortunate to have so many places to “get away from it all” in our neighborhood parks—Earlewood Park and Marshall Park—as well as the nearby Three Rivers Greenway and two specialty parks.
Maintained and kept safe by the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, Earlewood Park and Marshall Park offer an opportunity to get some exercise, enjoy the outdoor space, and more. The NOMA Dog Park and NOMA Community Garden offer opportunities for both relaxation and community building.
NOMA Bark Park
The dog park is located inside the walking track near the North Main entrance to Earlewood Park. Amenities include resting benches, water fountains, shade trees and convenient pet-waste disposal stations — as well as separate small dog and large dog play areas.
* The NOMA Bark Park is open to members only. * Membership is $25 per year per dog. Dogs are required to be spayed/neutered and vaccinated. If a City of Columbia or Richland County resident, a current pet license is required, even if you are a student (from either the City of Columbia or Richland County).
Visit the NOMA Bark Park website or Facebook page for more information.
NOMA Community Garden
The NOMA Community Garden is located between North Main and River Drive near the downtown neighborhoods of Cottontown, Elmwood Park, Earlewood, Laurel Hill and Canal Place. The property is owned by SCDOT and leased to the City of Columbia.
In the mid-1980’s, the SC Department of Transportation planned to build a six lane connector between 277 and 126 and proceeded to condemn about twenty homes and tear them down. Fortunately, the downtown neighborhoods joined together and successfully killed the project so there isn’t a raised highway running through our neighborhoods! For almost 30 years this land has been an eyesore but now it is home to 50 raised garden beds.
The NOMA Community Garden is open to everyone who wants to garden or learn about gardening. The cost is $20 a year to lease a bed and includes water. Members agree to plant and maintain a bed year-round.
The NOMA Community Garden will play a role in community development, bringing people together as well as creating an awareness that the North Columbia area is growing and is active. Indirectly, this will also help with safety and security, because we know the more active a neighborhood, the safer it is. For more information call 545-3100.
Three Rivers Greenway
Less than one mile from Earlewood is the Broad River Dam access point to the Three Rivers Greenway and the Columbia Canal off of Broad River Road. The Greenway has miles of lighted and paved trails, boardwalks and overlooks. It is open for walking, running or bicycling. Baby carriages and wheelchair accessible.
Earlewood Park
Located between River Drive and North Main Street, Earlewood Park is one of the oldest and largest parks in the city—the centerpiece of our neighborhood.
Described as “an urban forest that covers sixty-six acres of rolling hills and valleys and mature groves of trees. Noted for its many varieties of wild flowers it is one of the largest and most natural parks in Columbia.” The park has a community center, an amphitheater, a walking track, a disc golf course, tennis courts and two baseball fields.
The walking track, just off of North Main Street, is 0.2 miles with large shade trees, open grass, and a view of the Smith Branch Creek. The packed sand trail is great for both walkers and runners.
The community center offers programs such as summer camps, computers with internet access, and public bathrooms during center hours.
Earlewood Park has one of the best disc golf courses in the Southeast. Visit the Columbia Disc Golf Club for more information on the Earlewood Park course.
Park Hours: 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. all week
Community Center Hours: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Monday-Friday
Marshall Park
Marshall Park is a small community park in Earlewood bordered by Lincoln, Union, Florence, and Richfield Streets. It has many trees and hills and is popular with dog owners who often walk their pets in the park. As of 2021, Marshall Park is the new home of innovative new playground and climbing equipment
Park Hours: 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. daily
