The Howard Hughes Corp. (HHC) and Kettler Inc. have announced the opening of the West Promenade, a nearly one-acre community park at The Metropolitan Downtown Columbia, a recently-opened luxury apartment community located on Town Center Avenue.

The promenade sits alongside the new residential community and is distinguished by brightly colored, floral-themed sculptures by Baltimore artist Mary Ann Mears. The “Art & Play” concept of the West Promenade provides a memorable space for both residents and the public. Spanning the length of the east façade facing The Mall in Columbia, it features strategically-placed educational play sculptures of all different sizes, colors and functions.

In addition to the new public space, The Metropolitan also features outdoor seating for al fresco dining, shops and restaurants. The lineup of tenants slated to open in The Metropolitan includes first-to-market restaurants Corner Bakery Café and MOD Pizza. These fast casual restaurants will be complemented with service merchants such as hipster salon Floyd’s 99 Barbershop, European Wax Center and Village Nails Bar.

The Metropolitan Downtown Columbia, developed jointly by HHC and Kettler, offers 380 luxury apartment homes with unmatched amenities, such as a movie theater, gaming lounge, state-of-the-art gym and an abundance of modern outdoor living spaces, with a pool, grilling stations, fireplaces and green spaces.

At full build-out, plans for the revitalization of Downtown Columbia will include the new development of 5,500 residences, 640 hotel rooms, more than 4 million square feet of office and medical space and more than 1 million square feet of retail and restaurant space, spanning 20 acres of park, civic and cultural space.