Company Profile
Columbia Associaiton
Company Overview
Columbia Association (CA) is a nonprofit service corporation that manages Columbia, MD, home to approximately 100,000 people. Columbia was founded in 1967 by James Rouse and his Howard Research and Development Company. Rouse sought to build a complete city that would respect the land, provide for the growth of people and, ultimately, make a profit.
Columbia strives to be a community that welcomes diversity, respects the land and fosters the growth of individuals. To sustain that vision, Columbia boasts a full complement of services. There is a vibrant town center featuring Lake Kittamaqundi, a promenade, restaurants, a mall with a variety of shops, department stores and a multiplex movie theater. There are quality recreational and childcare services, schools that rank among the highest in the state, and acres of parks, lakes, ponds and wooded pathways.
Despite the breadth and variety of our services, what makes Columbia truly special is an ongoing commitment to the vision espoused by James Rouse, our founding father. As he stated, "By creating the image of the rational potential of a city, we generate the power to carry it forward. Without vision, there is no power." At the Columbia Association, we consider ourselves keepers of Columbia's vision.
In support of this vision, the Columbia Association offers a vast array of recreational, cultural and community services.
CA operates:
3 full-service fitness facilities
3 tennis clubs
4 indoor swimming pools and a hot water therapy pool
23 outdoor swimming pools, including two Mini-WaterParks
Columbia Archives
Columbia Art Center
Columbia DogPark
Columbia Ice Rink
Columbia SportsPark and SkatePark
Fairway Hills Golf Club
Hobbit’s Glen Golf Club
Volunteer Center Serving Howard County
Youth and Teen Center @ The Barn
In addition, CA maintains more than 3,500 acres of open space as a permanent asset for residents. Neighborhood amenities include lakes, parks, tot lots, basketball and tennis courts and more than 93.5 miles of walking, jogging and biking pathways.