DESTINATIONS, FEATURES, & AMENITIES

The Landing

The Landing is the hub of amenities at Finlay Park. It is located on the south side of the Oval, adjacent to the Splash Pad. It is your destination for snacks and cold beverages, equipment and amenity rentals, along with park essentials like sunscreen and insect repellant. The Landing will be open from 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM daily.

The unique architecture of the Landing’s structure echoes a lantern with abstract tree columns – a contemporary design that flows seamlessly throughout the park. It features dramatic uplighting which is connected throughout the architectural features in the park. This connectivity allows us to change colors to celebrate and commemorate milestones, holidays, causes and big wins.

Adjacent to the Landing, there are outdoor seating areas with café tables, picnic tables, and string lights above where you can reconnect, socialize or enjoy the sun.

Lastly, the Landing features a combination of seven modern unisex and family restrooms – three of which are fully accessible in compliance with ADA standards.

Cola Summit Playscapes

The Cola Summit Playscape is more than just a playground for young visitors at Finlay Park. Complete with five slides, rope ladders, climbing limbs and more, it is truly a destination for kids of all ages. Located on the west side of the park near Gadsden Street and below the Laurel Street parking lot, the Cola Summit Playscape combines modern play spaces and structures while integrating seamlessly with the architecture of the entire park.

For smaller children, we have a unique climbing area that is close to the ground. This area features an abstract Carolina Wren, along with “fallen” tree logs for that big-kid experience.

For kids with diverse sensory needs, Finlay Park has a sensory-friendly play space featuring interactive panels and musical features – located between the Cola Summit Playscape and the Splash Pad.

Splash Pad

Located adjacent to the Landing and across from the Cola Summit Playscape, the Splash Pad has been designed with two things in mind: cooling off from the heat and having fun. The Splash Pad has 35 single and multi-head jets designed for maximum cool down for kids of all ages. Featuring gentle sprayers and playful jets shooting from the ground, the Splash Pad is a great destination for all of Columbia and our out-of-town guests to enjoy.

Splash Pad season runs from May 23 – September 30; during the winter months, other activities will be programmed on the Splash Pad so we can ensure it gets activated all year long. The Splash Pad will be open from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily when it is in season.

The Splash Pad is fully-accessible for visitors using wheelchairs – with smooth pathways and ramps connecting all areas of Finlay Park.

The Stage/Oval Event Lawn

The Stage at Finlay Park will be home to live music each and every Friday from mid-February through mid-November. From R+B to Bluegrass, from Classical to Country, and from Rock and Roll to Jazz (and everything in between), the team at Finlay Park will present a wide variety of live music across many genres with the goal of appealing to our entire community.

The Stage will be the centerpiece for local, regional and national bands. The overwhelming majority of live music at Finlay Park will be free for our community to come and enjoy with friends and family; on limited occasions, there will be concerts and festivals that will require tickets.

The holistic design of the Stage fits seamlessly into the architecture, landscape and hardscape of the park. The stage has abstract tree wood columns supporting its roof, and is flanked by panels fitted with custom lighting which is connected throughout the architectural features in the park. This connectivity throughout the park allows us to change colors to celebrate and commemorate milestones, holidays, causes and big wins.

The Stage opens up to the Oval – a 60,000 square foot lawn which serves as the main viewing area for concerts at Finlay Park. With a capacity of 8,000-10,000 for standing room events, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy the show.

The Oval is ringed by a wide hardscape of asphalt and ribbon concrete, providing a nearly ¹⁄₅ mile walking loop for park guests that like to get their steps in. Roller skate rentals will be available for those who wish to glide around the Oval, but park guests can also bring their own skates or roller blades. The hardscape also provides access to the stage for production load-in and load-out.

The Stage at Finlay Park is the ideal platform to host community theater, movies in the park and collaborations for performing arts programming with local community partners.

The Lantern

The Lantern is a special backdrop for Finlay Park, and will serve as the evening beacon for park visitors throughout the year.

Sitting beneath Overlook Plaza and sweeping behind the Fountain’s flume, the Lantern is formed by 40 precast panels, assembled like dominoes against the base of the plaza and the grotto.

With a perfect offset, each panel is both up lit and down lit on its outside edge, creating an amazing halo effect. Atop the Lantern is a scrim – laser cut metal panels that continue the theme of an abstract bird nest. The white and rust-colored metal scrim is up lit from the top of the wall panels, adding to the beacon effect.

Overlook Plaza

Overlook Plaza is a venue within Finlay Park, offering a manicured lawn area, immaculate landscaping and a terraced, amphitheater-style seating area. It sits atop the Lantern and offers dramatic views of the Columbia skyline.

Perfect for weddings, renewal of vows, ceremonies, and intimate performances, Overlook Plaza is available for private rental and for public use when not privately rented.

With stunning views of the Finlay Park and downtown, Overlook Plaza is a truly Insta-worthy photo and selfie location!

Overlook Plaza is fully-accessible for visitors using wheelchairs – with smooth pathways and ramps connecting all areas of Finlay Park.

The Nest

The Nest, a private function space located atop Ranger Hill, is the place for your next intimate gathering. From wedding receptions to holiday parties, and from business meetings to engagement parties, the Nest offers incredible views of Finlay Park and the Columbia skyline.

To book your next memorable event experience at Overlook Plaza and / or the Nest, please email [email protected].

Take our scenic cantilever bridge from Overlook Plaza to the Nest! The bridge gives you a sweeping view of the park and Columbia Skyline while taking you behind a 40’ waterfall and over the hillside falls and rapids that connect to Ranger Hill, the Nest and beyond.

The Grotto

The Grotto at Finlay Park is a layered stone collection pool with large stones and rocks carefully stacked to form a picturesque shallow.

The Grotto is nestled between the Lantern and Ranger Hill, and is centered beneath the flume which flows water from the fountain into the Grotto.

Complete with concrete pathways, weathered steel bridges and seat walls to enjoy the sights and the sounds in a paradise within the park. The Grotto is the perfect place to gather your thoughts in an environment that is a full sensory experience.

From the Grotto, Park visitors can follow the journey of water leaving the fountain, heading over the flume into the Grotto pool before it makes its way under the bridges and into the Pond.

The Grotto is fully-accessible for visitors using wheelchairs – with smooth pathways and ramps connecting all areas of Finlay Park.

Recreation/Activities/Rentals

Pitch and Putt Disc Golf

Finlay Park boasts a 9-hole Pitch and Putt Disc Golf course that starts at the Upper Lawn and flows up and down the seven tiers of the Cascade Walk. Grab your bag and get ready for an afternoon of Up and Down on our course. No tee time required.

Soccer Goals

Finlay Park has four 3’ x 4’ Academy training Kwik Goals available for pick-up games and free play at Finlay Park. Organized pick-up games will be posted in the Columbia SC Pick Up Soccer group on Facebook, along with Finlay Park social channels.

Roller Skating

Finlay Park has a ¹⁄₅ mile asphalt oval track that surrounds the Oval – our 60,000 ft2 event lawn. Park visitors may bring their own skates or roller blades to join the fun; skates are available to rent at the Landing retail counter adjacent to the Splash Pad. Rental rates are just $3 per hour for kids and $5 per hour for adults.

Pickleball

Finlay Park features four Pickleball Courts that may be reserved for a nominal hourly fee. Off-peak rate is $16 per hour; Peak rate is $20 per hour.

Reserve a Court

Sailboat Rentals

A little bit of Central Park has been transported to the pond at Finlay Park, and park visitors will have the opportunity to rent a boat from our remote-controlled sail boat fleet. These model boats will be launched by a member of the Finlay Park team, and you can control the rudder to navigate your course. Sailboats are available to rent at the Landing retail counter adjacent to the Splash Pad. Rental rates are just $10 per half hour or $15 per hour. Users must leave a credit card as a collateral deposit.

Ping Pong

Finlay Park features two competition-sized ping pong tables, available on a free open play basis and are available on a first come, first served basis (subject to reservations). Reservations are not required, however, park visitors that would like to reserve a specific time slot may make reservations for a nominal fee of $10 per hour per table. Park visitors may bring their own paddles and ping pong balls. Paddles and balls will be available at the Landing retail counter for a nominal rental fee. Paddle users must leave a credit card as a collateral deposit.

Reserve a Table