A new park is part of the plan for former Richland Mall property. See the renderings
Forest Acres officials are sharing how a new public park at the former Richland Mall site could look.
The mall, which for decades was located at the southwest corner of Beltline Boulevard and Forest Drive in Forest Acres near Columbia, closed in late 2023. It is in the process of being demolished ahead of a massive overhaul that will bring new amenities to the site, including residences, retail, a brewery and a park.
Forest Acres City Council on Monday got a look at a conceptual master plan for what will be a 6-acre park on the property. Once completed, it would be the largest park in the Forest Acres’ parks system, the city said in a release. The city has tasked planners with including greenspace, swings, sitting areas, a pavilion, a playground and more in the park’s design. A key feature will be an amphitheater, along with an event space that would be a home to the city’s farmer’s market.
There also would be a walking path constructed along nearby Pen Branch Creek.
“This is an ambitious plan, one that reflects the vision our residents have shared with us,” Mayor Thomas Andrews said in a statement. “The council’s goal is to create a park that complements the adjacent development to help ensure that both flourish.”
Columbia landscape architecture firm LandPlan Group South is consulting on the park project, the city said in its release.
Demolition of Richland Mall
Demolition work began at Richland Mall in March, as workers kicked off what will be a year-long process to tear down and clear off the more than 900,000-square-foot structure. Originally conceived in the 1960s as an open-air shopping center and converted in the 1980s to a traditional indoor mall, Richland Mall had, in recent years, struggled mightily to hold on to major national tenants. Its last occupant was Barnes & Noble bookstore, which closed in December 2023 and moved to Garners Ferry Road.
Augusta development company Southeastern will overhaul the 32-acre property over the next several years with a more than $100 million plan set to include a 100,000-square-foot grocery store, more than 500 apartments, a brewery or taproom and more. Specific retailers that could be a part of the redeveloped site have not yet been announced.
And a key part of the project will be the as-yet-unnamed public park. The estimated completion cost for the park is $15 million, Forest Acres officials said Monday. Final approval of the park plan is still forthcoming, the city said. Once the plan is finalized, a year will be needed for site engineering and the completion of construction plans, before the project goes out for bid.
“We’re approximately a year away from fully understanding what we can achieve within the park’s budget,” Andrews said in a statement. “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.”
This story was originally published August 19, 2024 at 12:33 PM.
