COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Community Engagement
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Community Participation Engagement Strategy
ENGAGEMENT
The strategy for engagement included three major community meetings, a dedicated project website, and numerous smaller meetings with residents and stakeholders of Lower Richland County. The first major community meeting was held on November 14, 2016, the second on January 23, 2017, both at the Hopkins Park Gymnasium, and the third on January 24, 2017, at the Lower Richland Sheriff Substation. These meetings were hosted by the RCCC, Council members Dahli Myers and Norman Jackson, and the planning consultants from Asakura Robinson and Fermata, Inc. As part of a larger planning effort, the first meeting was set to: 1. Introduce the project and project team 2. Answer questions about the project, including its background, vision, and goals 3. Share the project schedule 4. Gather input and ideas from residents to inform the plan 5. Allow as many residents as possible a chance to help author the plan and become invested in its success Following an overview presentation by the planning team, the first meeting included breakout workshop sessions focused on sharing ideas, needs, and concerns about nature tourism, heritage tourism, and small business development in Lower Richland.
Planning team presentation at Community Meeting #1
Nature Tourism breakout session at Community Meeting #1
The second and third meetings focused on presentations and discussion, which included: 1. Highlights and lessons learned from the first community meeting 2. Highlights of draft recommendations and concept designs for community review 3. Site analysis of area Following the presentations at the public meetings, an open-house style meeting was held to get comments from residents and community members about what was missing from the plan (i.e. a comprehensive Lower
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Lower Richland Tourism Plan
Presenting breakout session ideas at Community Meeting #1
Richland brand, workforce development opportunities), what concerns they had (i.e. local business priority among new developments), and what they liked about the recommendations (i.e. preservation of natural infrastructure). Meeting participants were also provided with a survey form to provide additional comments following the meeting.
Lower Richland Residents There was an outpouring of interest and participation at the three public community meetings, which shows that the issues addressed by the plan are highly relevant and important to the community. The almost 200 attendees at these meetings gave invaluable input that has been incorporated into the plan to ensure that all of the recommendations are tailored to the needs of Lower Richland County.
Steering Committee Councilmember Dahli Myers Councilmember Norman Jackson Virginia Sanders, RCCC Cartha Harris Richard Jackson Rufus Mosley Heath Hill Marcella Sumter Levi Myers Formed at the start of the planning process, the steering committee served as an important liaison between the planning team and the larger Lower Richland community. The committee included exclusively local residents ranging from advocates, to business leaders, to Commission members, and elected officials. Meeting at key junctures within the planning process, including at project kickoff, site visits, and prior to the second community meeting, the committee was able to provide specific
Tour of Lower Richland with the steering committee input and knowledge of Lower Richland that helped to shape the goals and final content of the plan.
Stakeholders The planning team interviewed over 80 local stakeholders representing more than 50 organizations, including pastors from local churches; non-profits working to steward local natural and heritage resources; local universities; local, county, state, and federal agency representatives and government officials; owners and employees of local businesses; and local landowners. A list of stakeholders interviewed is available at the end of the Community Engagement section.
Lower Richland Elected Officials Richland County Council members Dalhi Myers and Norman Jackson were instrumental resources during the planning process, as was the late State Representative Rev. Joe Neal. These elected officials helped shape the plan and ensure strong community participation throughout. Mayor Geraldine Robinson of Eastover also gave generously of her time via a stakeholder interview. The planning team is deeply appreciative of these officials’ contributions.
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ENGAGEMENT
LOWER RICHLAND RESIDENTS
Major Community Meetings Project Website
LOWER Steering Committee Meetings
RICHLAND TOURISM PLAN
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Stakeholder Meetings
Community Engagement Process; Icons by Adrian Coquet from Noun Project
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Lower Richland Tourism Plan
STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS • • • • • • • •
Congaree National Park USDA Rural Development HUD – Community Development Block Grant SC Department of Natural Resources SC Department of Agriculture SC State Representative Joe Neal Clemson University Extension USC School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Mgmt.
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Richland County Economic Development Department Richland County Conservation Commission Richland County Planning Department Richland Library Council Member Dalhi Myers Council Member Norman Jackson Mayor Geraldine Robinson - City of Eastover Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors’ Bureau
• • • • • • • • •
Palmetto Conservation Foundation Congaree Land Trust SERCO Sustainable Midlands South Carolina Uplift Historic Columbia Southeast Rural Community Outreach (SERCO) Friends of Congaree COWASEE Basin Task Force
BUSINESSES
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River Runner Outfitter The Cycle Center Wavering Place Bed and Breakfast Carolina Bay Farms Cabin Branch Organic Farms Manchester Farms
OTHER
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Over 20 local church pastors Local landowners
LOCAL, COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL
NONPROFIT
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ENGAGEMENT
Community Input Nature Tourism
a compelling historical and heritage narrative.
Participants in the community meetings discussed existing regional nature tourism assets, and conceptualized what improved access to nature in Lower Richland might look like. The participants also focused on opportunities to mitigate the potential issues and effects of increased tourism, such as increased vehicular and bicycle traffic, through the planning process. Participants identified areas where they felt increased nature tourism in Lower Richland was feasible, and discussed how these types of tourism uses might work on the Cabin Branch and Mill Creek sites owned by Richland County.
From this discussion, the following ideas were identified: 1. Development of a Heritage Center to represent the history of Lower Richland for both locals and visitors 2. Create additional new locations and assets for interpretive history (e.g. farm, museum, grist mill, artist colony) 3. Tell the story of existing heritage assets, locations, and practices, from revitalizing local festival grounds, to interpreting the history of the African-American community, to highlighting local practices like quilting and sculpture 4. Connect heritage locations in innovative ways, including trains, trails, and scenic highways 5. Provide multiple local lodging options (e.g RV parks, bed and breakfasts, hotels)
Three main topics emerged from these conversations: 1. Create and program new nature tourism opportunities throughout Lower Richland (e.g. hiking, cycling, kayaking, guided tours) 2. Take advantage of Cabin Branch and Mill Creek sites to think holistically about tourism as economic development; for example, using these sites to encourage locally-owned and operated businesses 3. Actively address community concerns, such as traffic and parking, taxes, and the potential for sprawl or problematic development Residents felt that nature tourism activities should provide a local benefit by employing residents, involving children in the outdoors, and creating opportunities that both visitors and community members can enjoy.
Heritage Tourism Community participants expressed the importance of incorporating Lower Richland’s heritage into any future tourism strategy. Residents conceptualized existing and future assets, attractions, and key themes that would provide visitors and community members with
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Lower Richland Tourism Plan
Small Business Development Participants were eager to consider how this planning process, and future tourismrelated programs and investments, can create economic opportunities through tourism revenue for Lower Richland residents. Participants thought of several business types and opportunities that could emerge from tourism, and how these could overlap with a need for more community-serving businesses. From these conversations, three themes emerged: 1. Target particular high-opportunity business sectors for small business development 2. Bring assets to the table that would help Lower Richland residents build successful businesses 3. Ensure that the plan will remove barriers to business development by presenting thoughtful proposals that would balance the need for new businesses with preserving the rural and natural character of the community.
Workshop sheets from Community Meeting #1
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EXISTING CONDITIONS 32
Lower Richland Tourism Plan