The 2008 plan for Symphony Woods Park envisioned the development of a walkway layout that would preserve more than 250 trees. Only 30 existing trees were to be removed to implement the walkway plan that was approved by the Columbia Association Board in 2009. The walkways were to be constructed in the summer of 2013 with the 1.6 million dollars authorized by the CA Board. The interactive fountain and the café were to be implemented in phase two. Over 90 percent of the woodland landscape is preserved in the 2008 "Central Park" plan.
The proposed Inner Arbor walk system and the development on five separate sites in the park will damage more than 50 percent of the woodland landscape that people wish to preserve. More than 100 trees may be removed to build the Inner Arbor plan. The 2010 tree survey prepared by CA was used to estimate the loss of trees.
The Columbia Association staff, their park consultants and the Columbia architects worked together for four years to prepare the plan that the CA and the County approved in 2012. We believe the CA Board should sponsor a number of community meetings to discuss the alternative plans for Symphony Woods Park.
The Columbia architects invite people who support the 2008 plan to meet in Symphony Woods on Saturday, April 19, at 11 a.m. to build community support to Save Symphony Woods.
Cy Paumier
Columbia Architects