As Columbus takes a step toward leasing McCoy Park to a National Women’s Soccer League team, the city is developing a partial replacement and giving residents more time to make a case for preserving public land north of McCoy Park.
Columbus City Council at its May 18 meeting approved a contract for park design work as the city plans to develop nine acres of city-owned land near the intersection of Greenleaf and Brown roads into “Greenleaf Park.” The legislation modifies a contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., the firm hired previously to design plans for McCoy Park, so it can work on designs for alternative sites in the same neighborhood as McCoy on the Southwest Side.
The council also voted 7-0 to pass an amended ordinance that’s an incremental step toward building a new training facility for an NWSL expansion team at McCoy Park. After backlash on the ordinance from a couple of Southwest Side residents at the council’s last meeting, the city Department of Development amended the legislation to impact only McCoy Park and leave out about 10 acres of land north of the park – for now.
The amended ordinance sets a June 24 hearing on adding McCoy Park to the Confluence Community Authority. The city and county created the CCA to help facilitate the 2018 deal with investors in the Columbus Crew, and now it’s being used for the NWSL expansion team deal. A hearing is required under state law.
Still in dispute is land on Greenlawn Avenue that the Younkin family transferred to the city in 2024 for expanding McCoy Park and creating the “Younkin Therapeutic Recreation Center,” per a contract between the family and the city. The Younkins sold some of the land to the city and donated some of it to the city.
Those parcels were included alongside McCoy Park in the deal council passed with NWSL team investors, who plan to build out the training facility in future phases. Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin said the council did not know about the contract with the Younkins at the time of the vote.
The city Department of Development’s amendment allows the Southwest Area Park Working Group to continue discussing the use of those parcels. The group, which was established by a council amendment to the NWSL deal, is tasked with making a plan by June 28 to replace the amenities intended for McCoy Park. The working group includes city officials, representatives of the NWSL team’s investors, and residents of the Southwest Side and Franklinton.
“With the Greenlawn parcels available for discussion, the community feels cautiously optimistic about fulfilling what was envisioned for McCoy Park,” said Liz Reed, chair of the Southwest Area Commission.
Hardin said ahead of the meeting that he believes the contract with the Younkins speaks for itself and the city should keep its promises.
Elon Simms, chief of staff for Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, said while giving an update on the working group’s progress during the council meeting that the commitments the city made have not been forgotten. Officials in Ginther’s administration continue to have positive conversations with the Younkins, Simms said.
Simms said the amendment the council passed allows the city to move forward on two things.
“On one track, it allows the city to meet necessary timelines associated with beginning site work for the training facility,” Simms said. “On the second path, it allows important conversations regarding the northern McCoy parcels, future recreation investments, and broader community park priorities in southwest Columbus.”
Government and politics reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@dispatch.com. Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus moves McCoy Park plans forward, delays decision on nearby land
Reporting by Jordan Laird, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
