A land planning consultant recommended to the Columbia Council last night ways to improve and draw more residents to Symphony Woods, Columbia's equivalent of Manhattan's Central Park.
Charles Bailey, a senior associate with Columbia-based LDR International Inc., recommended ringing the 38-acre urban park in Town Center with a path connecting its diverse areas, establishing a more formal entrance, creating a "sound garden" with speakers or fountains, planting wildflowers, upgrading a pond and building boardwalks over environmentally sensitive areas.
"We want to preserve the overall character of the park and not have a lot of bells and whistles," Mr. Bailey told the council. "But one of the best things we could do is educate people to the ecological diversity that exists in the area. There's a lot going on here."
The recommendations also include leaving a larger portion of the park in a natural state rather than maintaining it as lawn, and encouraging wildlife habitat.
The council commissioned a $15,000 study about a year ago to determine ways to increase use of Symphony Woods, which surrounds the 12-acre Merriweather Post Pavilion concert stage, while preserving its natural qualities.
Council members said they were pleased with LDR's recommendations.
"I'm absolutely delighted in what you call 'passive use.' I think it's terrific," Councilman Chuck Rees, of Kings Contrivance village, told Mr. Bailey.
Other more active uses previously recommended but not included in LDR's report were an outdoor ice rink, sledding hill and concession stands.
LDR representatives and council members agreed that many residents don't even know the park exists in the heavily traveled downtown area.
"There are a lot of people who don't realize that Symphony Woods is Symphony Woods. They look at the whole area as Merriweather Post," said Councilman Gary Glisan, of Oakland Mills village.
The nonprofit Columbia Association (CA), which maintains Columbia's parklands, owns Symphony Woods. The Rouse Co., Columbia's developer, owns Merriweather and property surrounding Symphony Woods that is planned for residential, office and commercial development.
The park is bordered by Little Patuxent and Broken Land parkways and South Entrance Road. Wine in the Woods, a festival weekend held in May the last two years, attracted 10,000 or more visitors to Symphony Woods each time.
Several council members questioned whether development slated for areas surrounding the park will complement the improvements being considered. The Rouse Co. has not announced any definite plans for the parcels.
"If you put in a Tavern on the Green, it would complement nicely," Mr. Glisan said, referring to the famous restaurant in New York's Central Park.
"But if you put in a three-story office building, it would blow the whole effect."
Mr. Bailey said no cost estimates have been developed for the recommended improvements, adding that LDR still is seeking direction from the council.
The council will consider holding a public hearing on the proposed project and including money for it in the CA's fiscal 1996 budget.
The council sets policy and the budget for the CA.
In another matter, the council reversed a policy that would have restricted use of the Columbia Association's Fairway Hills Golf Course, expected to open by spring 1996, to Columbia residents.
But to prevent overcrowding at the course, the council expects to set significantly higher membership rates for those who live outside Columbia.
Councilman Mike Rethman of Hickory Ridge village proposed scrapping the golf course policy excluding non-Columbia residents, adopted when the council approved the $5.2 million Fairway Hills project in 1992.
The 18-hole course, which is being built west of U.S. 29 and south of Route 108, is intended to relieve overcrowding at the CA's Hobbit's Glen Golf Course.
Mr. Rethman said he was concerned that an exclusionary policy would send the wrong message to county residents.
He also said the council should seek ways to maximize revenue at Fairway Hills.
The council plans to end its policy restricting use of Hobbit's Glen to Columbia residents when fiscal 1996 begins next May.