2026 Preservation Awards | Finlay Park
Thursday, May 14th 2026
WINNER | Revitalization (any ownership or use)
Finlay Park | 930 Laurel Street
City of Columbia — Property Owner
LS3P — Architect and Consultant
Mashburn Construction — Contractor
Stantec Consulting Services Inc. – Landscape Architect
For more than three decades, Finlay Park has been a defining public space in the heart of downtown Columbia. Once known as the city’s “Crown Jewel,” the park served as a gathering place for concerts, festivals, and everyday recreation, anchored by its distinctive spiral waterwall fountain. Over time, however, aging infrastructure and deferred maintenance led to a decline in use, leaving the park disconnected from the community it once energized.
The $24 million Finlay Park Revitalization Project restored the vitality of this important civic landscape, returning the park to its role as a vibrant public destination. Led by Stantec with LS3P as design consultant, the project balanced respect for the park’s historic character while integrating new amenities for residents and visitors. Architectural and landscape elements respond to the park’s natural topography while integrating a new performance stage for concerts and events; a hillside playground, splash pad, pickleball courts; and exercise areas that promote public health. Sculptural precast panels follow the site’s sweeping landforms, while patterned steel screens and carefully designed lighting enhance safety and create a welcoming presence after dark.
Today, the revitalized Finlay Park demonstrates how thoughtful design and government investment are central in the ongoing life of public green spaces expected to serve as social, cultural, and recreational destinations in urban settings.
Images courtesy of LS3P and Joshua Aaron Photography.
Check out some of the other 2026 Preservation Award recipients:
2026 Preservation Awards | Pickens Street Cottages
The Pickens Street Cottages transformed a former parking lot into a residential enclave that echoes the scale and rhythm of the surrounding historic neighborhood. Through compatible design, materials, and site planning, the project reestablished a sense of continuity with the block’s residential past.
2026 Preservation Awards | A.S. Salley Library & Office
Rehabilitation work at 1917 College Street focused on stabilizing a historic structure long challenged by drainage and foundation issues while preserving its architectural character. Thoughtful repairs and system upgrades ensured the building’s continued use and long-term preservation.
2026 Preservation Awards | Lydia Mattice Brandt
Dr. Lydia Mattice Brandt received the 2026 Preservation Leadership Award for advancing public understanding of Columbia’s built environment through scholarship, teaching, and community engagement that strengthens historic preservation in both practice and principle.
2026 Preservation Awards | Main Street District
Main Street District received the 2026 Preservation Leadership Award for visionary leadership in using historic preservation as a catalyst for downtown revitalization, transforming Main Street into a thriving urban district through advocacy, strategic designation, and measurable economic impact.