Grasslands Park and Auburn Hills Park added almost 20 acres of park area to the Columbia Parks and Recreation system. Parks and Recreation Director Mike Hood says the parks are located in the middle of residential areas for a specific reason.

We usually put playgrounds, small picnic areas, walking trail. They're designed with the idea that the immediate residents of the park can have access to some open space where the kids can get out and play, where the parents can enjoy the out-of-doors and just have a recreational experience.

The Park Sales Tax and local donations funded Grasslands and Auburn Hills Parks. But Grassland residents especially contributed a lot of money to their neighborhood park Mayor Darwin Hindman was on hand for the celebrations. He credited "extraordinary efforts on the parts of the neighborhoods" for the creation of the parks. Grasslands Neighborhood Association President John Ott says the new park will give neighbors a reason to get outside.

It allows people to get together and there's a lot of parents with young children and it gives them a place to get together as a group and visit

While the parks are open to anyone, they are designed specifically for residents who live nearby. Grasslands Park is located just west of MU's campus and Auburn Hills Park is in North Columbia off Rangeline. Kristin Carringer, KBIA News. © Copyright 2012, KBIA