Columbia’s $25M Finlay Park vandalized a week before opening
Columbia has spent close to $25 million to resuscitate the long-dilapidated Finlay Park located between Laurel and Taylor Streets, south of Assembly Street downtown. Early steps to protect that investment include hiring full-time security and stationing designated police officers at the park.
But the city’s ability to protect that investment is already being tested. Over the weekend, a new building at the park was vandalized and city staff had to address the damage Sunday morning.
A building at the park was spray-painted, likely Saturday night or Sunday morning, said Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook.
The damage wasn’t significant, Holbrook said, and the spray paint was cleared Sunday morning.
Construction workers finishing up final touches at the park noticed the spray paint on the side of a building near Laurel Street when they got to work Sunday morning.
The city had already planned to have overnight security at the park starting Monday, but because of the vandalism, leaders moved that schedule up by a day, stationing security at the park Sunday night.
Assistant City Manager Henry Simons previously told The State that at least five park rangers at a time will be at the park seven days a week, between 6 a.m. and 9:30 p.m., and two Columbia Police officers will be stationed at the park during those same hours. A five-person grounds maintenance crew will also be on site during those hours. For after-hours, at least two private security officers will be on site from 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m.
There will also be more than a dozen cameras on-line at the park by the time it’s open to the public, Holbrook said.
“We’re hoping that this activation, and this 24-hour security that’s now in place, will prevent anybody from thinking about doing anything like that moving forward,” Holbrook said.
The Columbia Police Department is still looking for the vandal or vandals, and Holbrook said those responsible will likely face multiple charges, likely to include trespassing, breaking and entering, and property damage.
The city is hosting two days of live music and other festivities to celebrate the park’s grand re-opening this weekend, Nov. 15 and 16. On Nov. 15, the city is hosting Columbia’s annual Jam Room music festival, which has for years been held on Main Street. The city is hosting a second day of music, with folk group Shovels & Rope headlining, Nov. 16.
