Two Columbus Parks Impacted By Flooding

UPDATE (9:32 a.m.): Columbus Parks & Recreation announced on Saturday morning that Flat Rock Park & Cooper Creek Park have been reopened

COLUMBUS, GA: The rain has left the area and sunshine now dominates the Chattahoochee Valley. However, the impacts of days of rain remain across the region. While much focus has been placed on the Chattahoochee River in Columbus other areas of the city have experienced problems from flooding as well. On Friday parts of two Columbus parks were closed due to flooding from local waterways.

Flat Rock Park in Columbus was closed on Friday due to high water levels in the park. Residents who arrived to the 193 acre park were greeted with closed gates at the entrance on Warm Springs Road. Several residents stopped near the closed gates and observed the rapidly moving water flows of the creek over the parks popular rocks.There has been no word on when the popular park in Columbus will be safe enough to reopen.

Several benches in Cooper Creek Park fall victim to rising waters on Friday.

Not far from Flat Rock Park, portions of Columbus' Cooper Creek Park on Milgen Road were closed due to flooding. The park was still accessible in some parts near one of the playgrounds and the tennis courts. However, parts of the park near the lake were closed as flooding had impacted the lake and pushed water levels into recreation areas of the park.

Several benches in the park were surrounded by water on Friday afternoon. The playground near the lake in the park was completely surrounded by flood waters. The walking path near the lake was also consumed by the lakes waters outside of their banks. The flood waters did not stop people from enjoying the park as non-conventional walking paths were developed near the tennis courts and walkways.

A normally accessible dock in the park sits surrounded by flood waters on Friday afternoon.

Water levels across the region are expected to begin to start dropping on Saturday. The Chattahoochee River is expected to drop back to its normal water level of below flood stage on Monday. Flood stage for the river is 27 feet.

Columbus Parks and Recreation announced through their Facebook page on Friday that Flat Rock Park and the closed portions of Cooper Creek Creek Parks will reopen as soon possible. The city department thanked the public for their understanding.