Columbia riverfront project, explained: what’s planned and what’s next
Columbia has for years envisioned the transformation of a long-ignored stretch of the Congaree River in downtown Columbia. Now, the vision has momentum.
Columbia is moving forward on a plan to remake the Congaree riverbank between the Blossom and Gervais street bridges, turning a mostly hidden stretch of woods and wetlands into a major public park and opening nearby higher ground for new development.
The plans are moving forward now after years of envisioning thanks to a land donation, a now-completed river cleanup and active road projects that will create better access to the river.
Now, the city wants residents to weigh in and share their ideas, questions and concerns about the riverfront project, which promises to reshape how Columbia is viewed and how its residents live.
What’s on the table?
Columbia’s riverfront dreams include a “world-class” park, with space for new development in the surrounding area. But the plans won’t come together all at once. Instead, the vision is likely to take shape in phases. Some pieces, like a necessary road project and the creation of a master plan, are already underway. Here’s what’s promised.
A ‘world-class’ riverfront park
- Size and location: About 80 acres on the Congaree between Senate Street and the University of South Carolina’s Founder’s Park, with the bulk of the project sitting between the Blossom and Gervais street bridges.
- Design firm: The city has selected New York City-based Field Operations to design the park’s master plan. Field Operations is a nationally-recognized landscape architecture firm best known for New York’s High Line, a park built atop an old elevated rail line in Manhattan.
- What it could include: Plans and past visions have pointed to trails and greenway connections, boardwalks, an amphitheater or other event space, plus dedicated land for future commercial development.
- Floodplain planning: Much of the would-be park site is in a FEMA-designated flood zone and has flooded repeatedly, including during the 2015 “1,000-year flood,” when the river reached almost 32 feet there, and again in late September 2024, when Helene-related rain pushed it to more than 30 feet, inundating much of the proposed park land. City officials say the park would be designed with that flooding history in mind.
A riverfront district with new apartments, hotels, or other commercial projects
Beyond the park, city leaders want to see more private development near the river, with plans for a “riverfront district” that could include new apartments, offices, shops or even a hotel.
“This isn’t just about a single park; it’s about a vibrant district reflecting the unique character of our community,” Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann said in a statement.
Access first, then riverfront development
Before the city can develop the riverfront, it must be reachable. Two major road projects are finally helping create the needed access to the riverfront land.
Greene Street Bridge: The Greene Street Bridge at Huger and Greene streets opened in late 2022 as a key piece of infrastructure needed to eventually create better access to the Congaree River. The roughly $23 million project connected Greene Street to Huger Street across the CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads. It was the 2nd in a 3-phase project IDed in 2012 as needed for eventual riverfront access.
Williams Street extension: The next, more direct access piece along the river’s edge is now underway: a roughly $21 million effort to connect Williams Street between Blossom and Senate streets. This project was also IDed in 2012 as the third project to create better river access. It will add about 4,700 feet of new roadway with sidewalks and bike lanes, creating a north-south connection west of Huger Street, setting up the access needed for the planned park and nearby development.
What happens next?
Field Operations has been tapped to create a master plan for the park work, but exactly what gets included in the project, the timeline for construction and the cost of the work has yet to be finalized.
City officials have previously floated a budget between $40 million and $60 million, but the exact cost of the work won’t be known until Field Operations finishes its master plan. Exactly where the money will come from to pay for the park is also unknown.
The Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation has donated $5 million to the project, and private landowners the Guignard family, has donated property on the riverfront for the park effort.
Next, the city is asking members of the public to weigh in.
What to know today
Put April 1 on your calendar. The city of Columbia is hosting its first public input meeting about the riverfront plans.
“The first public meeting will focus on gathering input regarding opportunities and challenges along the riverfront, desired recreational amenities and public spaces, environmental priorities and preservation, and links to surrounding neighborhoods and destinations,” the city’s announcement reads.
- When: April 1, 2026, 4-6 p.m.
- Where: Senate’s End (The Hall) at 316 Senate St.
Read our past coverage
- March 2022: Will Columbia ever have a real riverfront? The dream inches closer to reality
- Feb. 2024: A new frontier for river access is being carved out in the Midlands. Here’s what the future looks like
- Aug. 2024: Columbia has a $21M vision for riverfront construction. What is included in the plan?
- Feb. 2025: Finally taking advantage? City envisions park, apartments, dining on Columbia riverfront
- March 2025: Columbia wants to transform flood-prone riverfront with a ‘world-class’ park. Can it work?
- May 2025: Columbia considering 6 designers for riverfront park. See their past work
- Dec. 2025: Columbia waterfront park could be designed by firm responsible for NYC High-Line
This story was originally published March 24, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
