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Columbus
is the place to be for outdoor sports.
Not only is
Columbus the biggest city along America’s newest river, the Tenn-Tom
Waterway, but it is also the site of world-class bass fishing in the
waterway’s Columbus Lake and superb boating, camping, and picnicking.
And then there’s the climate that offers almost year ‘round
golf and tennis on many fine courses and courts, contact sports through
local schools and organized groups and hunting in certain areas or through
private hunt clubs. This area is a sportsman’s paradise!
The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway
This amazing man-made river — the largest project ever undertaken
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — began as a vision even before
the Revolutionary War. The young America’s leaders saw the need
to connect the Tennessee and the Tombigbee Rivers as a way to augment
commerce and trade from southeastern middle America to the Gulf of Mexico.
After years of planning, threats by environmentalists and other obstacles
which were eventually overcome, the 234-mile waterway does indeed connect
middle America to the world via the Port of Mobile and the Gulf of Mexico.
Finally, after twelve years of work and an investment of almost $2 billion,
the Waterway officially opened on June 1, 1985.
Since that time, the Tenn-Tom Waterway has transported millions of tons
of goods via barge traffic that depends on the waterway’s intricate
lock and dam system. But it has provided another important service to
the region: abundant outdoor sports and recreation opportunities.
Record-size fish have been caught along the waterway, among them Mississippi’s
record smallmouth bass, weighing in at 7 pounds, 15 ounces, and the
state’s record flathead catfish, weighing an amazing 65 pounds,
8 ounces. And then there’s boating, which is as good as it gets,
according to serious boaters, and with the addition of the new Columbus
Marina, it’s even better than before.
Camping, too, is outstanding, whether the choice is primitive camping
or RV camping. Sites maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers are
popular spots, and some have hiking/nature trails. Public hunting is
allowed in specified areas, for hunters with proper licensing and permits.
Call the Corps of Engineers in Columbus for additional information about
waterway opportunities, 662.327.2142, or the Tenn-Tom Development Authority,
662.328.3286.
Lake Lowndes State Park
Towering pines and a peaceful lake make this place a welcome respite
for those who appreciate natural beauty that is safe and well-maintained.
Biking and hiking, fishing and boating, camping and picnicking, tennis
and softball fields are available here, as well as an indoor multi-sports
center that offers a variety of sports. Cabins are available, but need
to be rented in advance; call 662.328.2110.
Golf and Tennis
The Columbus Country Club and Old Waverly Golf Club are well-known and
well-maintained facilities and they both offer championship 18-hole
golf courses and tennis courts, but they are private clubs. Semi-private
and public courses are Elm Lake (662.329.8964), Green Oaks Golf Club
(662.328.3879) and nearby Mississippi State University’s highly-rated
golf course (662.325.3028).
Tennis tournaments are held throughout the year at the private Magnolia
Tennis Club. Tennis players who want to play on public courts are welcome
at Columbus High School, Lake Lowndes State Park, Mississippi University
for Women, Propst Park and Sale School Mini-Park.
Columbus-Lowndes Recreational Department
This active group takes “recreation” seriously, for they provide
services far beyond the usual sports facilities and events. The department
oversees activities and equipment at city parks, with an emphasis on
youth athletics and special events including baseball, basketball, tennis,
volleyball and more. The events are organized and supervised, and they
include day camps, youth leagues, field trips and holiday programs for
all ages.
To their credit, the Columbus-Lowndes Recreational Department includes
certain aspects of the arts. Jackson’s New Stage Theatre comes
up on occasion to perform, and in conjunction with the Arts in Artesia
program, blues musician Johnny Billington has conducted workshops with
children in the Artesia program. Arts activities are funded in part
by the Mississippi Arts Commission and these activities benefit all
ages. CLRE offers a plethora of programs for senior adults, including
ceramics, field trips, senior sports and more. CLRE also offers educational
programs on such things as HIV/AIDS awareness.
The plan is to continue to expand the services offered, and to provide
new and better programs, services and facilities, all of which are designed
to benefit the citizens of the city and county.
Columbus Sportsplex
“There’s so much community interest in the proposed Sportsplex,
and if interest is an indicator, the Sportsplex will become a reality,”
said Chamber President Jack Marshall. The interest, according to Marshall,
has come from parents and grandparents who want a state-of-the-art sports
facility for children and for the community, and from business people
who recognize that such a complex will enhance economic development
for the area.
“There was a time when recreational needs were considered a luxury,
until cities that built sports facilities saw that not only did local
people use them, but they were a solid economic development tool. Before
prospective businesses re-locate or build in a new location, their officers
always ask, ‘What can our kids do?”
The ‘all in one complex’ that Marshall and other city leaders
envision will encompass approximately 240 acres, and it will include
areas for baseball, softball, soccer and tennis. Combining the sports
categories into one complex will be cost-efficient in that they will
use common parking lots, press box areas, restrooms and such.
“Such a facility may have been a luxury once, but it is a necessity
for today’s progressive cities. Another good reason to have a Sportsplex
is the scholarship potential. All major universities have scholarships
and local sports facilities enhance the athletic abilities of young
players. It can make them better prepared to compete for scholarships.
This is an investment in young people that we want to make, added Marshall.
SEC Sports
This is SEC country! Fans are abundant for these regional games, and
the fans may choose from three nearby universities that are SEC affiliated:
Mississippi State University, 20 miles west of Columbus; the University
of Mississippi (Ole Miss), about an hour and a half northwest of Columbus,
and the University of Alabama, an hour east of Columbus.
Football season is well publicized, so there’s no way to miss it
here in the heart of the SEC.
Load up the fixings for a tailgate party and enjoy the day!
