SOUTH CAROLINA
FALL 2021
RECREATION & PARKS ASSOCIATION
IN THE ALSO INSIDE: ART COMES TO LIFE IN SOUTH CAROLINA AGENCIES
• Views from the Park Bench • Goose Creek Tandem Trike • Here’s What’s Happening
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SOUTH CAROLINA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
President Randy Woodard Charleston County
Secretary Alice Jones Charleston County
Eastern VP Beth Goodale Georgetown County
The Association Report..............................................................................4 Here’s What’s Happening...........................................................................6 Views from the Park Bench..................................................................... 8-9 Tandem Trike a Gamechanger in Goose Creek................................10-11 Art in the Park Spartanburg County....................................................................... 12-13 Saluda Shoals...................................................................................14-15 Town of Mount Pleasant.................................................................16-18 Lancaster County........................................................................... 20-21 City of Columbia............................................................................. 22-23 Columbia Arts Center.................................................................... 24-25 City of Newberry............................................................................ 26-27 Charleston County......................................................................... 28-29 City of Charleston........................................................................... 30-31
President Elect Dustin Jordan City of Myrtle Beach
Treasurer Brian Rogers Cheraw
Southern VP Cole Thomas Charleston County
ADVERTISER INDEX
Vice President Jessica Campbell City of Aiken
Past President Kevin Stiens Spartanburg County
Western VP Brad Cuttino City of Greenville
RECREATION & PARKS ASSOCIATION
2021 Board of Directors EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Central VP Katherine Jones Lancaster County
BRANCHES ELM Branch Amy Evans Town of Summerville PRM Branch Jesse Holliman City of Rock Hill
Programming Allyson All City of North Charleston SCAP Branch Willie Stewart City of Mauldin
SC PRT Representative Matt Elswick South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Areté Structures......................................................................................... 11 Barrs Recreation......................................................................... Back Cover Carolina Parks & Play.................................................................................29 Cunningham Recreation.............................................................................7 Discount Playground Supply....................................................................15 iZone Imaging............................................................................................23 Gyms for Dogs.............................................................................................3 Most Dependable Fountains...................................... Inside Front Cover Wood + Partners Inc...................................................................................4 Woolpert.....................................................................................................19 On the cover: Painting The Born Learning Trails in four Spartanburg County
Architectural dog park products
Student Branch Leslie Ballard City of Rock Hill
SCRPA EXECUTIVE STAFF Executive Director James E. Headley jim@scrpa.org
Membership Services Coordinator Melissa Williams melissa@scrpa.org
MAGAZINE/MARKETING COMMITTEE Bethany Doman Chair City of Charleston
Lucas Vance Central Rep Fairfield County
Gina Ellis-Strother Southern Rep Charleston County
Mallory Holmes Vice Chair City of Myrtle Beach
Victoria Singletary Eastern Rep City of Florence
Gabriella Porter Western Rep City of Greenville
DOG WASH TUBS
FUN PRODUCTS
WATER FOUNTAINS
PLAY EQUIPMENT
AGILITY ITEMS
South Carolina Recreation & Parks Association P.O. Box 1046, Lexington, SC 29071 (p) 803-808-7753 www.scrpa.org • info@scrpa.org To advertise in the magazine, contact Todd Pernsteiner: todd@pernsteiner.com or (952) 841-1111.
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Fall 2021 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 3
THE ASSOCIATION REPORT by Randy Woodard, SCRPA President & Jim Headley, SCRPA Executive Director Randy Woodard
Jim Headley
Your association stands ready with each of you to remind everyone that we are an essential part of the fabric in every community. As we transition into the fall, the leaves will eventually start to turn, and our South Carolina landscape will become even more amazing. Hence, this fall issues’ theme is “Art in the Park.” While some of us are “artistically challenged,” it should not limit us from enjoying the works of others that are creative and can express themselves in the visual, literary, or preforming arts. The arts are such a key component/fabric of each of our communities. Throughout this issue, you will see just a small sample of this. The arts, like our profession as a whole, are a great representation of what each of our communities portray. Every public park and recreation agency across the state, as well as the country, is uniquely different. Some vary in size, while others vary on focus in certain programs, and while others focus on preservation and interpretation of our natural resources. It is our job to delicately weave these variations together so each of our communities can still
Creating Great Places!
be represented as a whole. Each segment of our profession must always remember how great our profession is and impact we all have together on our communities. This is why we are continuing to emphasize the phrase ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’! SCRPA firmly believes that this reflects our profession. This has always been a focus since Fredrick Olmsted envisioned Central Park in New York. In the many training sessions that we have attended regarding this subject matter, we are continually reminded that we can not have inclusion without equality and inclusion. We must always ensure our policies, facilities, and programs reflect the very fabric of our communities. This year’s conference in Greenville will have many excellent speakers to help each of us understand this very issue. We will also be reintroducing our off site excursions to explore what our upstate agencies and professionals have accomplished over the last three years. For example, one excursion includes a tour of Greenville’s Unity Park, which is encompassing the very thought process of Mr. Olmstead’s Central Park. We have a couple new features this year as well. At the beginning of the conference, we will be offering the Aquatic Facilities Operators (AFO) course and/or exam. We also will be having our 17th Sports Management Institute, which will be held at the conclusion of the honors and awards luncheon on Thursday afternoon. Make sure to visit our conference portal on our web page as we release our educational and networking opportunities. Your association stands ready with each of you to remind everyone that we are an essential part of the fabric in every community.
Park Planning & Design Greenways & Trails Recreation Needs Assessments Sports Complexes
Upcoming 2021 Events August 10 • Cayce Tennis Center, Cayce ELM Branch Workshop for Front Line Staff October 28 • LinRick Golf Course, Columbia 19th Annual SCRPA Golf Tournament
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4 SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks • www.scrpa.org 4 SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks • www.scrpa.org
December 6-8 • Greenville, SC 76th Annual SCRPA Conference Greenville Hyatt Regency To view all upcoming events and to register, visit www.scrpa.org
On l i n e Re gist ra t i o n No w Ope n! 76th Annual SCRPA Conference December 6-8, 2021
Greenville Hyatt Regency • Greenville, SC Schedule-at-a-Glance* Schedules include 2021 Conference, Sports Management Institute (SMI), and Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO) Certification. Additional registration required for SMI and AFO. Greenville photos: Van Zeppelin Aerial Photography / VisitGreenvilleSC
Monday – December 6
Wednesday – December 8
7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m......AFO Certification Class
7:30 – 9:30 a.m................. Exhibit Hall Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m..............Registration Open
9:45 a.m. – 12:10 p.m............Education Sessions
2:00 – 4:25 p.m.....................Education Sessions
12:30 – 1:45 p.m...........Awards & SMI Luncheon
4:35 – 6:00 p.m.......... Opening General Session & Keynote 6:00 p.m................................ Dinner and Social
SPORTS MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
Wednesday – December 8
Tuesday – December 7
2:15 – 3:20 p.m.......................... SMI Keynote
7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m......AFO Certification Class & Exam
6:00 p.m....................................... SMI Social
8:00 – 8:40 a.m............ SCRPA Business Meeting 8:50 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.............Education Sessions 4:30 – 6:30 p.m..................Exhibit Hall Opening 7:00 p.m................................................... Social
3:25 – 5:40 p.m........ SMI Education Sessions
Thursday – December 9 8:15 a.m. – 12:50 p.m..S MI Education Sessions 12:55 – 2:00 p.m........ SMI Awards Luncheon
*Subject to change. Watch scrpa.org for the most up-to-date information.
Conference Hotel Visit scrpa.org to find link to hotel booking information. Greenville Hyatt Regency is the 2021 Conference hotel. Special $159 per night rates are available to conference attendees from Saturday, December 4 through Friday, December 10, 2021. Use group code G-SCR2 when making your reservation to get the special rate.
#HeresWhatsHappening
Snapshots of programming in SCRPA member agencies County Spartanburgrogram Parks 50+ P
VID-19 hiatus, the After a 14-mont h CO is back Pa rks 50+ Progra m ty un Spart anbu rg Co usly xio an n bee d ha s e sen ior up and ru nn ing. Th be to d ille and they’re thr await ing their return able to meet aga in!
Aiken’s Pitch, Hit,
& Run Event Aiken Cou nty Park s, Recreat ion & Tou rism hosted a loca l Pitch, Hit, & Run event spon sored by Major Lea gue Basebal l on Satu rday, May 8. Part icipa nts (boys & girls) from 7-14 years of age competed in Pitching, Hitt ing, and run ning events.
S u m mer v
ille Home
Run Derby
The Tow n of Sum mer ville Park s and Recreat ion hosted its second Annual Home Run Derb y on Friday, June 11th, in hon or of last year’s season bein g cut shor t. This year’s event had ten part icipa nts from four different high school com mitted to play baseball at the followin g scho ols; Duke University, Universi ty of South Carolina , Coker Univ ersity, and Newberr y College. The players all compete for the title of Home Run Derby Cha mpion.
Kickball Fundamentals in Charleston g letes, a lon Un ified at h n to es rl a h C w it h City of reat ion ec R c ti eu T herap s it a del ca det st a ff a nd C se u ra K it a del’s from the C ip sh er d ea L Center for g re tea m in & Eth ics, a gs in en ev ay d up on T ues the rn a er to le th is su m m ta ls en m a d n fu ru les a nd on City of of k ickba ll ’s M ira cle Ch a rleston d. el fi e Lea g u
AGENCIES: SUBMIT YOUR UPDATES!
Have a #HeresWhatsHappening brief to submit for a future issue of the magazine? Please send your text (70 words or less) plus up to three high resolution photos to: Bethany Doman at domanb@charleston-sc.gov
6 SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks • www.scrpa.org
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Fall 2021 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 7
Views from the Park Bench The next few issues of SCRPA magazine will feature Views from a Park Bench. This feature will highlight retired directors or recreation professionals that have been in the field for 10+ years and have them share advice, compare agencies then to now, or simply tell their story. We hope you enjoy reading and perhaps learn some things from these well-versed perspectives.
Brenda Oliver Columbia Art Center By Brenda Oliver After 10+ years, I am retiring from my position of the Program Coordinator for Columbia Art Center. For me, this is a time of reflection. When I started at this position, Columbia Art Center was just a small community pottery studio. My overall goal was to make it much more. First, I had to have a vision. My vision and goal was to make it not only to stand out in the community, but to excel at meeting the needs of the community. I looked at the facility and realized its potential down the road. I had to set 5 to 10 year goals and assess the community needs. We started by adding painting and mixed media programs, which brought in a whole new group of participants. Then, we added one of our biggest outreach programs called Creative Journey. This is a program specifically for veterans that gave us national recognition. We were also able to maintain our contact with Fort Jackson and work with active duty military families and their children with special needs.
My next goal was to move the Columbia Art Center to a new location that would provide us the space for our programs to grow and blossom. After a few years of searching, we found an amazing new facility. The next stop was to find additional staff, specifically someone who could help with this vision and bring more artists and types of arts to the community. These steps were carefully followed over the course of 10+ years and the facility is better for it. It now functions as a well-developed site that can more than adequately meet the needs of the art community. I would counsel anybody who is currently in the position I was originally, to think of these steps and take positive steps towards change. Everything is now in place for the Columbia Art Center to continue the phenomenal growth. As I retire on July 30, I have a large feeling of accomplishment at what was completed over the years and feel confident that I am leaving the program in good hands.
I have a large feeling of accomplishment at what was completed over the years and feel confident that I am leaving the program in good hands. • www.scrpa.org 8 SOUTH 8 SOUTHCAROLINA CAROLINA Recreation Recreation andand ParksParks • www.scrpa.org
Tom O’Rourke
Mt. Pleasant & CCPRC Q: What was your job title(s)? A: I had two high profile positions while in the Parks and Recreation profession. The first was the Director of the Mt. Pleasant Recreation Department for 9 years and then Executive Director of the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission for a little over 17 years. Q: What was your favorite part about working in recreation? A: My favorite part about working in the Parks and Recreation profession has always been in the relationships that I have developed. These relationships include staff, park and program users, elected and appointed officials and other departments within a City. Every day that you wake up, in our profession, you are provided with an opportunity to help someone. As someone who has been in this profession all my adult life, it is the people that you remember most. Q:What is one challenge you faced in your position and how did you overcome it? A: Facing difficult challenges while in a position of leadership is something that all senior managers face. Most challenges we can’t write about or explain because of confidentiality issues. My most difficult challenges always came from personnel decisions. In leadership you have to genuinely care about the people that you are responsible for. Sometime, as a result of people’s actions, you need to act. Leadership decisions are easy, acting is not so easy, especially when you care for people. In the end, we are stewards of the departments we are managing. My most difficult decisions were the ones I had to make that I knew was the right decision for the agency, but not so good for the person affected. Q: What is one piece of advice you would give to people looking to enter the world of parks and recreation? A: I would strongly advise people to get into the profession. The people do not need to change, the profession needs to change. If the future of our profession is to ask for more help every year or keep doing the same thing, then not only are future employees in trouble but so is the profession. We are going to need to effectively “sell” that we are the department that solve every single social issue that we are dealing with now. Look at the obvious issues today, BLM is us, teen suicide is us, health and wellness is us. We need to actually address these and every single other issue we are doing and ensure that the elected people and the people that we serve know what our profession really is. We need to be more in sales.
Performance Indicators,) they should be measuring. Success is defined by the data you collect. If you can’t measure something you can’t evaluate it or define it. Q: My favorite quote is... A: “A great teacher is one who realizes that he himself is also a student and whose goal is not to dictate the answers, but to stimulate his students creativity enough so that they go out and find the answers themselves.” - Herbie Hancock Q: Do you have a favorite experience with us from when you were working with CCPRC or another agency you worked for? A: I had so many “favorite” experiences, but maybe my favorite was when I got to sign a “transition” contract that gradually moved me out of the Executive Director position and David Bennett into the position, knowing that the key to stabilization of any organization is a well thought out succession plan. Q: What is the coolest thing you’ve done in retirement (from recreation)? A: The coolest thing that I have done in “retirement” is be on the team at The Nexton Community near Summerville, to establish a privately managed park and recreation agency for the region. (I’m not in any way retired!)
Q: How did you define success in your role or department? A: I love the question of how do you define success. The answer is that it depends on what you are measuring. So many departments really have no business plan, or no plan at all. Many departments do not even know what KPI’s (Key
Fall 2021 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 9
Tandem Trike
a Gamechanger for Goose Creek’s Therapeutic Recreation By: Nicole Murray, Therapeutic Recreation Coordinator, City of Goose Creek During the quarantine, my husband and I rediscovered a great hobby: bike riding. On one of our rides, I had an idea. How cool would it be to have a Bike Club for my Therapeutic Recreation participants? I did some research and found Freedom Concepts, a company that makes specialty products such as the Tandem Trike, dental chairs, and other adaptive equipment. Freedom Concepts connected me with Stephen Houston, the founder of Heather’s Ride, a non-profit organization. A partnership was formed between Goose Creek Recreation, Heather’s Ride, and Freedom Concepts. MUSC Children’s Hospital was approached about funding a Tandem Trike for the city, and MUSC graciously agreed to join this important effort. This trike is special, even compared to other tandem tricycles. The participant rides in the front seat, allowing him or her to feel as though they are independently riding. They feel the wind blowing through their hair. The trike can be adapted to each child’s specific needs, including foot pedal contribution.
10 SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks • www.scrpa.org
Thanks to some great partners and support from the community, Goose Creek Recreation’s adaptive tricycle will make a real impact for many years to come.
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Fall 2021 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 11
Art
IN THE
PARk
ART COMES TO LIFE IN SOUTH CAROLINA AGENCIES
12 SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks • www.scrpa.org
BORN TO LEARN,
ONE SIDEWALK ART PROJECT AT A TIME Kristen Guilfoos, Marketing Manager, Spartanburg County Half art installation. Half educational tool. A whole lot of fun. The Born Learning Trails in four Spartanburg County parks draw families from all across the Upstate. Each trail features ten different activity stations, complete with bright colors and bold designs, specifically painted to both entertain and educate children 5 and under. The trails are in the parks through a partnership with United Way of the Piedmont, the Spartanburg County Foundation and the Spartanburg County Parks Department. “Each one is designed to be engaging. So instead of just reading a sign in a park, the children can practice counting, sing their ABCs, learn their letters and work on their hand-eye coordination while playing Hopscotch,” says Alex Moore with United Way of the Piedmont.
All of the Born Learning Trails are painted by local volunteer groups, something Moore says instills a sense of pride in their community. “It really gives people a sense of belonging, knowing they were involved in something that beautifies their local parks and benefits their fellow Spartanburg County residents in multiple ways.” One of the stops along the trail encourages children to look at their surroundings and talk about what they see. Another asks them to identify colors on the sidewalk and name things that are also those same colors. Moore adds, “This is a great example of the community coming together to help brighten public spaces and help educate the next generation at the same time.”
Fall 2021 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 13
CONNECTING PEOPLE
TO NATURE THROUGH THE ARTS By Mark Baker, Park Director, Saluda Shoals Park Saluda Shoals Park is a 480-acre environmental park located along the banks of the Lower Saluda River. Since the park’s inception, connecting people to nature through the arts has been ingrained within its mission and culture. Saluda Shoals Park accomplishes this by displaying works of art throughout the park and offering a wide variety of performing arts programs. From its founding, Saluda Shoals Park has commissioned many local artists who have provided distinctive pieces to its collection. These art pieces are placed throughout the footprint 14 SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks • www.scrpa.org
of the park and include numerous sculptures, murals, paintings, and abstracts that depict the park’s natural environment. A piece to note is a custom designed batik of the Saluda River, by internationally known artist Mary Edna Fraser. One of the more unique aspects regarding the artwork within the park is that none of them can be found on any of the park’s maps. The goal is to create an immersive experience where guests come upon these hidden gems while exploring the park’s trails and various ecosystems.
parts, pieces & play gear galore. Performing arts programs have also been a staple that highlights Saluda Shoals Park’s distinct culture. The park has established a multitude of programs centered around performing arts, the most notable being the Jazz Series. Every spring and fall, the park hosts a series of three jazz concerts featuring local musicians. The Jazz Series is held outdoors on the deck at the park’s environmental center with nature providing an intimate backdrop. This offers attendees an opportunity to immerse themselves in the experience of music and nature. In addition to the Jazz Series, the park has established partnerships with various local performing art organizations including the Columbia Children’s Theatre and the South Carolina Philharmonic orchestra, who host their events in the park. These events have created a unique gateway for the park to reach community members who may not typically utilize the park in the traditional fashion and provide a rich opportunity of diverse programs for the entire Midlands region. The devotion to providing art and cultural experiences is so robust it has been built within the 10-year Park Commission’s strategic masterplan. A commitment has been made to offer programs that support appreciation, inspire creativity, and provide for arts and cultural education and experiences across the lifespan. This devotion to the arts ensures Saluda Shoals Park will continue to explore new opportunities to meet the mission of the park for current and future generations by connecting people to nature through the arts.
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16 SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks • www.scrpa.org
PUBLIC ART PROGRAMS FOSTER COMMUNITY PRIDE By: Jon Whitbeck, Marketing Coordinator, Town of Mount Pleasant An important part of any community, art inspires residents, improves quality of life, and encourages artistic and cultural expression. The Town of Mount Pleasant Recreation Department’s Culture, Arts & Pride Commission (CAP) strives to support local artists, promote their work, and enrich the community. CAP programs provide local artists monetary stipends along with promotion on the Town’s website and social media outlets. From murals to sculptures, art “rains” supreme in the lush landscape of this Lowcountry town. CAP’s Paint the Town program builds community character and charm through public art. Local businesses can partner with
the Town by “donating” exterior property walls for murals. Two new murals at the RL Jones Recreation Center are painted on a curved outdoor wall spanning the length of the facility’s indoor pool. Large windows provide views of the inner mural, showcasing vibrant, whimsical sea life painted by artist Rachael Nerney. The outer wall, an abstract tropical design created by Julie Wheeler, is visible to cars, pedestrians and skatepark enthusiasts. “When it comes to public art, not everyone will love every piece, but almost everyone will love many pieces,” said Special Events Manager Nicole Harvey.
Fall 2021 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 17
THE MOUNT PLEASANT RECREATION DEPARTMENT’S CAP PROGRAM IS A WIN-WIN BOTH FOR LOCAL ARTISTS AND RESIDENTS.
CAP has several other public art programs. Art on the Half Shell features four-foot fiberglass oyster sculptures painted and displayed throughout town. Traffic Box Art features original, colorful designs wrapped around formerly drab metal boxes. The program, which won a Gold Hermes Creative Award in 2018, currently includes 28 boxes. CAP partners with the College of Charleston Art Department for a rotating display of student sculptures. The program has led to several permanent installations at recreation complexes and the public library. CAP also partnered with Southeastern Wildlife Exposition to install six beautiful bronze sculptures at Memorial Waterfront Park.
Art and culture are on full display at Town Hall where selected art becomes part of four-month rotating displays in the government building. CAP hosts Mayor’s Music & Art Receptions for each rotation. CAP recently coordinated two contests for art to be printed on an official Town t-shirt and reusable shopping bags. Artists win cash prizes and receive publicity for their work. The Mount Pleasant Recreation Department’s CAP program is a winwin both for local artists and residents. Art promotes pride in the community, enriches public spaces, and increases awareness of local arts and culture. To learn more visit tompsc.com or experiencemountpleasant.com.
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Fall 2021 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 19
EXPLORE ALL TYPES OF ART IN THE PARK THROUGH THE LINDSAY PETTUS GREENWAY By: Mike Barnes, Manager, Lancaster County Parks & Recreation If you are ever in the City of Lancaster, SC, be sure to stop by the Lindsay Pettus Greenway, a winding 1.8-mile concrete, asphalt, and wood-decked trail at any of their multiple access points. Phase 1 of the 3-phase trail was completed and opened in October 2020 and the citizens and visitors of Lancaster County wasted little time before exploring the trail! From dog walking, to mothers with strollers, to avid runners and walkers, or those just wanting the fresh air experience, Lancaster’s Lindsay Pettus Greenway has much to offer. Before entering the trail, stop by the Founders Federal Credit Union trail amenities to get ready. While waiting on your group, enjoy the bench and rest area provided by Nutramax Laboratories. When beginning your trip, about 100 yards from the Barr Street trail entrance is the “Kids in Parks” kiosk and • www.scrpa.org 20 SOUTH 20 SOUTHCAROLINA CAROLINA Recreation Recreation and and ParksParks • www.scrpa.org
FROM DOG WALKING, TO MOTHERS WITH STROLLERS, TO AVID RUNNERS AND WALKERS, OR THOSE JUST WANTING THE FRESH AIR EXPERIENCE, LANCASTER’S LINDSAY PETTUS GREENWAY HAS MUCH TO OFFER.
trail specific brochures provided by the Blue Ridge Parkway at no charge, a key sponsor at SCRPA’s 2020 Programming Summit. Continue about 1⁄2 of a mile and take in the painted mural project that the local art students from the school district, along with an artist provided by the Lancaster County Arts Council completed. They took an ugly underpass below a bridge and turned it into a beautiful sight to see. Meander throughout the winding trail into the City Park with benches and picnic tables for people to stop, rest, and enjoy. Continue on the trail by crossing over the road access and follow the sidewalk onto the elevated steel bridge. Stop at
the overlook, where every 2nd Saturday of the month, the Lancaster County Parks and Recreation’s staff provide and assist kids and parents with creative “nature art” projects and scavenger hunts. Continue walking around 100 yards, and take a left onto the unpaved, graveled, and secluded annex of the trail. Located halfway around the secluded curved gravel pathway is the bubbling creek side “Mediation Sanctuary”, a thought-provoking, problem solving area. The bench in that sanctuary is provided by the Lancaster Breakfast Rotary Club and dedicated for solving the problems of the world. When you have completed your healing and meditation, follow the pathway back onto the trail and turn left.
As you continue walking on the trail, be sure to stop at the covered Comporium Communication’s Nature Pavilion located near the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce for your group photo op. After getting a sip of water and using the amenities, continue your winding walk onto the elevated wooden walkway to the Memory Patio. This patio is lined with commemorative bricks of some of the trail sponsors. Continue on to the end of phase 1 of the trail and back to your starting spot. When you complete your trip, you have successfully completed over a 5K.
Fall 2021 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 21
Charleston County Parks Adapts Programs, Events During Pandemic
CITY’S PUBLIC ART INITIATIVE CAPTURES STORIES OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY By: Kevin Crawford, Public & Media Relations Manager, City of Columbia The City of Columbia in partnership with Columbia SC 63 and One Columbia Arts and Culture, launched a public art project that brings history, specifically African-American history to life in a bold, vibrant way. Columbia SC 63’s mission is to gather, preserve and showcase images, artifacts, and testimony to ensure that the deeper, multifaceted story of the struggle for freedom and justice in our city is told. The partnership with One Columbia Arts and Culture aims to tell that story through Public Art, reaching and teaching current and future generations of Columbia residents. After approval from Columbia City Council, the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Foundation commissioned artists to paint murals on exterior walls at four city-owned facilities.
The Director of Parks and Recreation was given the responsibility to locate three parks in each district to have a mural drawn that would allow for the goal to be accomplished. 1401 Main Street Mural: “The Pursuit of Opportunity, Celebrating AfricanAmerican Business” Painted by Ija Charles, the 900, 1000, and 1100 blocks of Washington Street in downtown Columbia constituted the heart of the city’s thriving African American business district. Woodland Park: The Pursuit of Justice, Sarah Mae Flemming Painted by Hand in Hand Creative, the mural located in Woodland Park, located off of Garners Ferry Road, depicts Sarah Mae Flemming. Mrs. Flemming was an African-American woman who resided
The Pursuit of Citizenship, Benjamin Mack, Septima Clark, and Listervelt Middleton
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in Eastover, SC, who in June 1954, took a seat in the “whites only” section of a segregated city bus. She was attacked by the bus driver and eventually filed a lawsuit against the owners of the bus company. The Flemming incident happened more than a year ahead of the much more heralded Rosa Parks bus incident in Alabama. Valencia Park: The Pursuit of Education, Rosewood Elementary, and School Desegregation On Monday morning August 31, 1964, twenty-four children from several families across Columbia stepped into history. The mural, which was painted in Valencia Park, located in the Rosewood neighborhood, represents those young African-American students integrating schools in Columbia in the 1960’s. The mural was painted by McClellan Douglas.
THE CITY OF COLUMBIA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COLUMBIA SC 63 AND ONE COLUMBIA ARTS AND CULTURE, LAUNCHED A PUBLIC ART PROJECT THAT BRINGS HISTORY, SPECIFICALLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY TO LIFE IN A BOLD, VIBRANT WAY. Hyatt Park: The Pursuit of Citizenship, Benjamin Mack, Septima Clark, and Listervelt Middleton The mural located in Hyatt Park in North Columbia depicts several prominent African-American citizens, including educator Septima Poinsette Clark, civil rights activist Benjamin Mack, and journalist and public TV personality Listervelt Middleton. Charmaine Minniefield was the featured artist for this mural. “Not knowing the impact of the potential murals, I was astonished by the historical nature by which our City Parks have made and continue to play in the lives of the communities we serve,” Randy Davis, Director City of Columbia Parks and Recreation said.
The Pursuit of Education, Rosewood Elementary, and School Desegregation
The Pursuit of Justice, Sarah Mae Flemming
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WORLDS OF CREATIVITY By: Bohumila Augustinova, Arts and Culture Specialist, Columbia Art Center Columbia Art Center is all about partnerships and collaborations. When we were contacted by the Survivor Clinic, part of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, about working with a refugee group from Myanmar, we were all about it. In this process, Brenda Oliver, the Program Coordinator and Bohumila Augustinova, the Arts and Culture Specialist for Columbia Art Center, were amazed how much they were learning about this amazing culture and its art. Brenda and Bohumila realized that they would like to learn about more different
cultures and provide the opportunity for others to learn as well - and that’s how Worlds of Creativity was born. Bohumila started communication with a few local agencies and international organizations to see if there could be a program that was all about showcasing arts and cultures from around the world in friendly, interactive ways. Since February was approaching, they started with African American Arts celebration. They dedicated a small area of the Art Center to this program and set up a temporary art exhibition, invited few local performers, and had tables with
WORLDS OF CREATIVITY HAS BEEN AN AMAZING ADDITION TO COLUMBIA ART CENTER PROGRAMMING AND GROWTH. THANKS TO THIS PROGRAM, THE ART CENTER IS NOW ABLE TO OFFER MANY CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS THAT ARE ALL ABOUT TRADITIONAL ARTS AND CRAFTS. • www.scrpa.org 24 SOUTH 24 SOUTHCAROLINA CAROLINA Recreation Recreation and and ParksParks • www.scrpa.org
interactive activities. The night was a great success! Our second month was all about Congolese art. Columbia has a big Congolese refugee population and they hosted a spectacular event full of dancing and singing. The night was a hit as well! By the time Colors of India came, we had to open up a bigger space and that was the game changer. About 300 people joined us that evening for a night of dance performances, live music, henna tattoos, a sari photo booth, beautiful rangolis, and tables
with different types of traditional Indian arts and food. Food was sold out after the first hour and the Columbia Art Center team was buzzing with happiness! Since then, there have been many, many events from all around the globe, but everyone’s favorite is Holidays Around the World in December. It is a beautiful way to learn about different holidays that are celebrated in winter months and their respective traditions. Worlds of Creativity has been an amazing addition to Columbia Art Center programming and growth. Thanks to this program, the Art Center is now able to offer many classes and workshops that are all about traditional arts and crafts. We have seen a big growth in diversity in Columbia Art Center and this makes us all very happy!
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Charleston County Parks Adapts Programs, Events During Pandemic
REC-MOBILE TURNED ARTS MOBILE: NAC TAKING ART TO THE PARKS By: Sharon Graham, Arts & Special Programs Coordinator, City of Newberry Parks, Recreation and Tourism Newberry Arts Center’s (NAC) Art in the Park was an idea that came about after attending a Creative Placemaking Workshop in Columbia in 2019. The topic that stood out the most to me was about “taking art out into the community and to the people.” This sparked something deep inside me! As someone who grew up with two siblings and working parents, no transportation to summer camps – not to mention the price for three kids – I knew I just had to take the art to kids that could not make it to summer camp because of various issues. Thus, the beginning of our Art in the Park program. Our athletics crew with the City of Newberry’s PRT Department was already taking the “Rec-Mobile” to area parks Monday through Thursday with a range of outdoor activities free of charge for local kids. That left Fridays available for art! What an opportunity! On Fridays, we loaded up the Rec-Mobile with art supplies instead of sports equipment and headed to the park. WOWW … we were totally amazed at the number of children that showed up! For six weeks in 2019, NAC staff along with volunteers met every Friday at Marion Davis Park to take art to kids in the area. We had kids from ages 2-16! We were able to identify and offer scholarships to some of the Art in the Park kids for our Summer Art Camps at NAC as well. This was an outreach program that supported our mission – just what we had been looking for! We were so excited!
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Then came the summer of 2020, along with COVID restrictions, and we were not able to have Art in the Park. We were so disappointed, as were the families that had been looking forward to the program again that year. Now in 2021, Art in the Park is back and better than ever! With such a great group of volunteers, as well as the kind generosity of donors, we have been able to bring in guest artists for several of this year’s programs. Our first one for the season brought in 37 (yes, 37!) kids and the guest artist was Diann Price Williams, a children’s author. Again, through the generosity of donors we were able to provide every kid with a free copy of one of the books from her “Gran Ma” series entitled, “Gran Ma On Freedom Is Not Free.” Other artists appearing at 2021 Art in the Park are Tiffany Gary, who is presenting a program on “Painting through Emotions,” and Christy Buchanan, a folk artist who will be leading the kids in their very own painting party. Other activities include a recycling project, newspaper and magazine art, watercolor and a weaving project. This has been and continues to be such a rewarding experience for our agency. It truly makes our hearts happy to see these kids leave with an art project of which they are so proud!
WITH SUCH A GREAT GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS, AS WELL AS THE KIND GENEROSITY OF DONORS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING IN GUEST ARTISTS FOR SEVERAL OF THIS YEAR’S PROGRAMS. Fall 2021 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 27
Charleston County Parks Adapts Programs, Events During Pandemic
FOSTERING YOUTH COMMUNITY ART WITHIN OUR PARKS By: Alec Pourmoghadam, Marketing Intern, Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission When looking to revamp and revitalize her facility’s entrance mural, Kristen Allen, Assistant General Manager at James Island County Park, knew she wanted to showcase the artistic talent of local youth. Allen reached out to Barbara Richardson, Visual Arts Instructor at Charleston County School of the Arts, to help bring the new mural to life. Richardson and her class of 8th graders were eager to start the project. Richardson remarked, “When I was first approached about the idea of possibly having students design and paint the walls at Splash Zone Waterpark, I immediately shared the news with my in-person and virtual 8th grade students. The possibility
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of going somewhere outside of the confines of the school or home had my students overcome with excitement!” Provided with the color palette, tropical treehouse theme, and the request to depict park mascot Frogmore in the mural, the class began to get to work on designs. After, the class’s proposed work was approved and cleared for production. The class took a field trip out to the park to begin painting the mural. Allen was surprised at how quickly the team worked. “They began in the morning,” stated Allen. “By mid-afternoon, I was amazed that their work was done so quickly and executed so well.” The class was able to complete six separate murals that provided a
SHADE YOUR WAY fun story for guests to follow while entering the park, all within a mere five hours. Guests and staff alike are in awe of the new, vibrant murals,” said Allen. While the project provided a new and engaging display for the park, it also allowed local youth to gain hands-on experience in their art education and provided them with a platform to showcase their work. Richardson remarked at the end of the project that “mural painting day was not just a great learning experience, but it was by far the highlight of the last two school years for me.” After the success of the project, Allen hopes to continue the trend of allowing youth art to be showcased in different forms across Charleston County Parks. Reflecting on the experience, Allen said, “I highly recommend that parks reach out into their local communities to help strengthen relationships and allow the community to be featured within their local facilities.”
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PARK ART BEGINNING TO BLOOM IN CHARLESTON By: Raena Burns, Summer Marketing Assistant, City of Charleston Recreation
When most people think of Charleston they usually don’t think about art; they tend to think of historic monuments, palm trees, and beautiful beaches. But the true beauty of this city is visible through charming local stores, amazing restaurants, and unparalleled local art. There are dozens of art galleries, schools and organizations that work to not only encourage art, but to display and incorporate it into the framework of this growing city. One of these organizations is Enough Pie, a local non-profit organization that works to connect and inspire the community through art and projects. One of the projects Enough Pie is currently working on is called “In Bloom”. This initiative teamed up local artists to help bring life and art to neglected areas in our downtown. The project came about as a response
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to neighbors who wanted to see more green in the area. The pillars of the I-26 underpass will serve as a way to integrate art into the area by becoming a canvas for artists to paint native pollinators and greenery and highlight South Carolina’s extensive wildlife. Painting the pillars is the first step in giving new life to the area. “It was really a fun and challenging opportunity to work on this project with so many other artists. Although we were working within a framework, it is so cool to see each artist’s style and personality reflected within that framework. There was a spirit of comradery, helping each other, sharing tools (ladders)!” Said Rosemary Dillon, an artist who worked on painting the pillars and who is also an art instructor with the City of Charleston Recreation Department.
Due to the pandemic, the painting of the pillars was halted. As a way of letting the community see the intended project, Enough Pie and the artists created a coloring book with all of their planned designs so kids and families could bring the art to life at home. Now that the project is back up and into the second and final phase, members of the community will be able to go see the art in person. Once the painting is done, the underpass will be converted into a usable space with a playground, basketball court and benches. This will become a space for people to gather and for Enough Pie to host art classes, poetry workshops and clean-up projects. Enough Pie’s project will be a spur of another project called the Lowcountry Lowline that is being conducted by a separate organization called Friends of the Lowcountry Lowline. The goal
of the Lowline Project is to take the abandoned railway track and neglected highway corridor and turn it into a usable space for the community. There will be walking and biking paths, parks, and areas for vendors to set up shop. The whole project will be adorned with local art including murals and sculptures and will also include painted underpass pillars. “Public art will be a key feature for the Lowline. It adds enormous value to the cultural, aesthetic and economic vitality of a community. The Lowline won’t just be a place to walk or bike (but that is great too); it will be brought to life by music, art, educational signage, and other activities that will constitute its free programming, which will be offered in partnership with other community organizations.” said Megan Mills, Executive Assistant to the Board of Friends of the Lowcountry Lowline.
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SOUTH CAROLINA
RECREATION & PARKS ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 1046 Lexington, SC 29071-1046
