Harper's Choice

Harper’s Choice is a Columbia village made up of Longfellow, Hobbit’s Glen and Swansfield. Its neighborhood names also help explain the street signs: the association traces them to poetry, Tolkien’s writing and works of art. For an introduction to the area, combine a practical stop at the village center with a specific recreation activity.

Begin at Kahler Hall

Harper’s Choice Community Association is based at Kahler Hall, 5440 Old Tucker Row. The building hosts village meetings and community activities and offers meeting and reception space. Someone planning a neighborhood gathering can begin with the hall’s availability; a new resident can start with the association’s maps and local resources. The same building serves several purposes, so identify the office, meeting or rental you need when making arrangements.

Choose an activity at SportsPark

Columbia SportsPark, at 5453 Harpers Farm Road, has miniature golf, batting cages and a skatepark. The batting cages offer baseball and softball options with different pitch speeds. Those choices make it possible to plan around a particular interest instead of treating the site as a generic playground stop. Check its facility calendar and the arrangements for the activity you want; a party booking or lesson has a different schedule from casual play.

Notice the village-center landmark

The association identifies Joseph’s Square Fountain in the village shopping center as a memorial to John Joseph, its first village board chairman in 1969. It is a small detail that connects the commercial gathering place to village history. Pair that stop with the neighborhood map to understand where Longfellow, Hobbit’s Glen and Swansfield fit within the wider Harper’s Choice community.