Earlewood Park in Columbia, SC: Historic Hub for Outdoor Recreation

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The Playground at Earlewood Park

Earlewood Park offers one of Columbia’s best playgrounds for kids. The main play structure is designed for ages 5 to 12 years old, with two toddler slides, one big kid slide, tall monkey bars, a bouncey bridge, and multiple climbing structures. There are two baby swings and two big kids swings, plus an artificial rock garden where kids can climb to varying heights.

The play area is in full sun, making it an extra great option for winter time in Columbia. A bamboo forest lines one side of the play space, and a fence lines the other to protect it from the parking lot. A railroad track runs directly over above the bamboo forest, and the Community Center is right next to the playground.

Virginia Bedford Community Center

Also known as the Earlewood Community Center, the Virginia Bedford Community Center is open to the public from 2 to 6pm on weekdays. We appreciated being able to access the clean restrooms during our visit and found out they offer workshops and events throughout the year. It houses a banquet hall, meeting room space, and kitchenette available for rent.

The Community Center is part of a beautiful 2-building complex, where you can also find the Administration Offices for City of Columbia’s Parks and Recreation Department. The Administration Offices are open 8:30am to 5pm on weekdays, and you can contact them by phone at 803.545.3100 to ask about current conditions, events, and availability at Earlewood Park before your visit.

Earlewood Disc Golf Course

The Earlewood Disc Golf Course is the oldest disc golf course in South Carolina! Originally built in 1989, it still features some of the first dome-top baskets ever created by the Disc Golf Association (DGA). It is now recognized as one of the best disc golf courses in the region, offering 18 holes with heavy shade and challenging elevation changes.

Park visitors are welcome to bring their own discs and try out the course anytime, but more avid disc golf fans might be interested in checking out the Columbia Disc Golf Club. This non-profit organization offers special events and tournaments, discounts on local merchandisers, and a newsletter with updates on all things disc golf in the area.

Disc golfers will want to be mindful that the course is shared with other park visitors, so use caution and make sure the area is clear before you throw a disc.

Walking Trails at Earlewood Park

There are two walking trails at Earlewood Park in Columbia. The better-known trail is 0.2-mile sandy loop around the NoMA Bark Park. On-leash dogs are permitted on the trail, and it’s feasible to push a stroller on it depending on the conditions of the sand. The trail loop borders Smith Branch Creek on one side, offering some pretty glimpses of the water.

The second trail is a network that winds through the woods behind the Community Center, following the disc golf course and leading to the amphitheater and picnic shelter. It does not run in a defined loop, but the trails add up to less than a mile altogether, so you are not likely to get lost. Consider using a map app like SC Trails, which shows the full trail network, or AllTrails, which lays out a 0.5-mile route around the perimeter.

If you go walking on the trails behind the Community Center, just keep an eye out for flying discs! You’ll be passing through the disc golf course, and even amateur disc golfers can throw up to 60-80 miles per hour.

Some sections of both trail systems at Earlewood Park can be secluded, so consider inviting a buddy to walk or run with you. City employees are also nearby at the Administration Office on weekdays from 8:30am to 5pm.

NoMA Bark Park

Also known as North Main Bark Park, NoMA Bark Park is a members-only dog park inside the larger Earlewood Park. Membership costs about $50 per dog per year, and dogs must be spayed or neutered and up to date on standard vaccinations.

Members will gain access to about 2 acres of fenced playspaces for your pets, including a large fenced area for big dogs with a special pet playground and a separate fenced area for small dogs. Pet owners will appreciate the benches, mature shade trees, and automatic lighting that make it easy to enjoy the dog park anytime the larger Earlewood Park is open.

Pets are only allowed to be off-leash within the fenced areas of NoMA Bark Park, and should be put back on-leash when walked anywhere else within Earlewood Park.

Other Amenities at Earlewood Park

Visitors to Earlewood Park can also enjoy a variety of athletic amenities including tennis courts, an outdoor basketball court, and multiple ballfields for youth and adults. A covered picnic shelter with restrooms is available for family gatherings, and you can check the Earlewood Community Calendar for details on upcoming events at the amphitheater.

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