Editing Columbia, Maryland (section)

== Parks and recreation ==
Columbia has numerous recreation centers. The homeowners association, the Columbia Association, known to many in Howard County as "CA", builds, operates and maintains most of these facilities. CA operates a variety of recreational facilities, including 23 outdoor [[swimming pool]]s, five indoor pools, two [[water slide]]s, [[ice skating|ice]] and [[roller skating]] rinks, an [[equestrianism|equestrian]] center, a sports park with [[miniature golf]], a skateboard park, [[batting cage]]s, [[picnic]] pavilions, clubhouse and playground, three [[gym|athletic club]]s, numerous indoor and outdoor tennis, basketball, volleyball, [[squash (sport)|squash]], [[pickleball]], and [[racquetball]] courts, and running tracks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-02-02 |title=Facilities |url=https://www.columbiaassociation.org/facilities/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Columbia Association |language=en-US}}</ref>

There are three lakes ([[Lake Kittamaqundi]], [[Lake Elkhorn]], and [[Wilde Lake]]) surrounded by parkland for sailing, fishing, and [[boating]]; {{convert|80|mi|km}} of paths for [[jogging]], strolling and [[bicycle|biking]]; and 148 [[tot lot]]s and [[playground|play areas]].

Nine village centers, 15 neighborhood centers, and four [[senior center]]s provide space for a large variety of community activities. There are a variety of fairs and celebrations throughout the year, including entertainment on the lakefront of Lake Kittamaqundi during the summer and the Columbia Festival of the Arts.

Columbia also has garden plots for rent, under the guidance of the Columbia Gardeners, which has been in existence since the 1970s. There are about 350 garden plots at three sites in Columbia.<ref>Doug Miller, "Turning over a new leaf could be growing concern", ''Columbia Flyer'', May 31, 2007, page 17</ref>

Chiara D'Amore's Community Ecology Institute's Freetown Farm, founded in 2016, uses hands-on gardening to educate people and cultivates communities where people thrive together. Freetown farm was built on the site of Columbia's last working farm. The name ''Freetown farm'' refers to the area's historical name and its ties to the [[Underground Railroad]]. It features an [[NAACP]] garden and donates much of the food that is raise to local food banks.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=October 7, 2022 |title=Freetown Farm is cultivating veggies — and nurturing communities |url=https://www.today.com/video/freetown-farm-is-cultivating-veggies-and-nurturing-communities-150132293903 |work=[[Today (American TV program)|Today]] |location=Columbia Maryland |access-date=November 11, 2022}}</ref>