SCRPA Magazine - Summer 2022 by Pernsteiner Creative Group, Inc.

SOUTH CAROLINA

SUMMER 2022

RECREATION & PARKS ASSOCIATION

Partners KS & RECREATION R A P

South Carolina agencies working together with peers and community organizations to help the greater good

ALSO INSIDE: • And the Winner is… Popular Community Events • Newberry Adds Outdoor Gym • Publications Go Digital

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SOUTH CAROLINA

RECREATION & PARKS ASSOCIATION

2022 Board of Directors EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Secretary Megan Young City of Greenville

Eastern VP Beth Goodale Georgetown County

President Elect Jessica Campbell City of Aiken

Treasurer Brian Rogers Town of Cheraw

Southern VP Cole Thomas Charleston County

Vice President Katherine Jones Lancaster County

Past President Randy Woodard Charleston County

Western VP Daniel Halliman Greenville County

Central VP Brian Jones City of Rock Hill

BRANCHES Programming Shelli Davis Boesner Town of Mt. Pleasant

PRM Branch Josh Blackstone Charleston County

SCAP Branch Matt Watts Beaufort County Student Branch Kevin Lynch City of Rock Hill

The Association Report..................................................................................................4 SCRPA Member Briefs................................................................................................ 5-6 Innovation Corner: Promoting the Arts........................................................................5

AND THE WINNER IS… Town of Summerville............................................................................................8-10 Spartanburg County............................................................................................... 11 City of North Myrtle Beach.................................................................................... 12 Town of Mount Pleasant......................................................................................... 13 Greenville County................................................................................................... 14 City of Greer.............................................................................................................15 Build Your Own Free Workout in Newberry.........................................................16-17

President Dustin Jordan City of Myrtle Beach

ELM Branch Kim Moultrie City of Spartanburg

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SC PRT Representative Matt Elswick South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism

PARKS & RECREATION PARTNERS Spartanburg County...............................................................................................21 Charleston County............................................................................................ 22-23 City of Aiken....................................................................................................... 24-25 Town of Mount Pleasant................................................................................... 26-27 City of Greenville............................................................................................... 28-30

ADVERTISER INDEX Areté Structures.............................................................................................................27 Barrs Recreation............................................................................................ Back Cover Carolina Parks & Play..................................................................................................... 10 Cunningham Recreation.................................................................................................7 Discount Playground Supply....................................................................................... 23 Gyms for Dogs......................................................................................................... 30-31 iZone Imaging..................................................................................................................3 Issuu...........................................................................................................................18-19 Most Dependable Fountains.......................................................... Inside Front Cover Smith-Midland...............................................................................................................29 Wood + Partners Inc.....................................................................................................25

On the cover: CCPRC partnered with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra to perform at an event supporting the Charleston County Parks Foundation’s Cultural History Fund.

SCRPA EXECUTIVE STAFF Executive Director James E. Headley jim@scrpa.org

Membership Services Coordinator Melissa Williams melissa@scrpa.org

MAGAZINE/MARKETING COMMITTEE Kristen Guilfoos Chair Spartanburg County

Bruce Wilkinson Eastern Rep Georgetown County

Gina Ellis-Strother Southern Rep Charleston County

Vacant Vice Chair

Nick Krueger Southern Rep Charleston County

Bobby Brandt Western Rep Greenville County

Alison Cribb Central Rep City of Aiken

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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Save the date!

SCRPA Annual Conference November 14-16, 2022 Hilton Head Island

Visit www.scrpa.org view all upcoming events.

A portion of online purchase proceeds automatically go to SCRPA!

Summer 2022 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 3

THE ASSOCIATION REPORT by Dustin Jordan, SCRPA President & Jim Headley, SCRPA Executive Director Dustin Jordan

Jim Headley

Strength Through Partnerships We hope your spring programs went well and the beginning of the summer months are already well planned and going smoothly. I know it may seem tireless, and sometimes even monotonous, but the trainings each of you go through/put on for your summer day camps and water parks/pools are extremely vital in preparing for a safe and fun summer. The Association continues to put into place the plans we made at the start of the year. Our branches have delivered some outstanding education sessions already. The Parks Maintenance Institute and The Programming Summit continue to build upon their post Covid momentum, with training opportunities specific to the interests of their branch members. The Executive Level Management Branch hosted the 31st Annual Southern Leisure Management and Trends Institute. We devoted a great deal of time to workforce development and hopefully most walked away with ideas to curb some of the pressures of recruitment and retention. This year, our Sports Management Institute will be held in Rock Hill at the Sports and Event Center, on December 8th & 9th. At the board retreat, we outlined our goals and made sure the calendar was filled with many professional development opportunities. Three of our four districts have held trainings geared for the front-line staff and have seen some good success! Inside the pages of this issue, you’ll find inspiring highlights of how our members are working together with peers and community organizations to help the greater good. Each of us is challenged

Be Seen!

UPCOMING SCRPA MAGAZINE DEADLINES

Fall 2022 Issue - Deadline: June 18, 2022 (Issue includes Member Directory & Buyer’s Guide) Winter 2022 Issue - Deadline: September 15, 2022 Spring 2023 Issue - Deadline: January 15, 2023 Summer 2023 Issue - Deadline: April 13, 2023 Interested in advertising? Contact Todd Pernsteiner for advertising details at (952) 841-1111 or todd@pernsteiner.com. Download the rate card at www.bit.ly/SCRPA2022 or by scanning QR code at right.

4 SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks • www.scrpa.org 4 SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks • www.scrpa.org

with this everyday in our jobs. In our world of public parks and recreation we all must partner in order to provide services for our citizens. SCRPA is no different. SCRPA has formed numerous partnerships with many organizations, state agencies, and groups in order to help promote each of you and our profession. A new partnership that is still in its infancy is the SC Trails Coalition. While nothing tangible has been laid out, the concept and purpose are beginning to come together. South Carolina needs an overall trails master plan. For this purpose, trails also include walking paths. Many of you may recall that when SCRPA rebuilt the www.sctrails. net website we purposefully included walking paths. While not initially embraced by the trails community, it is an excellent resource for the general public, especially those looking for a less strenuous outdoor exercise option. SCRPA is one of five Trails Coalition partners. The others are SC Palmetto Trail, Palmetto Cycling Coalition, Kids in Parks and SC PRT. The website will soon be hosted by The Palmetto Trail and the Palmetto Conservation Foundation. Due in part to grant funding, when finished, the site will feature a statewide trail map, as well as an overlay of what each agency has planned for future trails and walking paths in their regions. The purpose would be two-fold. One, we want the general public to know where great trails/walking paths are located. Two, we want each of you to realize what could be and is going on near you. We hope this will bring more connectively across city and county lines where it’s feasible. Please stay tuned as we continue to nurture this partnership. Please be on the outlook for our 77th Annual Conference on Hilton Head Island! We have some really exciting things planned for you and some great sessions scheduled. We continue to be thankful for everyone’s contributions to the association and look forward to keeping 2022 going strong!

SCRPA has formed numerous partnerships many organizations, state agencies, and groups in order to help promote each of you and our profession.

SCRPA MEMBER BRIEFS City of Greenville Receives Generous Donation from BMW Group

Clemson Students Tour Campus to Discuss Growth

BMW Group donates $1.25 million to preserve the Wetlands at Unity Park. Sustaining the existing natural ecosystem will provide clean air and soil, protect animal habitats and remove pollutants. #buildunity

PRTM 4030: Elements of Park Planning students recently conducted a campus tour where they discussed how Clemson’s campus is rapidly growing and how basic recreation and park planning principles, processes and trends can be applied to campus development.

BMW President and CEO Dr. Robert Englehorn says the automaker is committed to ‘taking sustainability to the next level and reducing its carbon footprint in the Upstate.” Mayor Knox White says this enhances the river restoration efforts and tree plan associated with park construction.

Innovation

Corner: Promoting THE ARTS The Newberry Arts Center (NAC), a division of the City of Newberry PRT, has teamed up with the School District of Newberry County to showcase artwork of talented students, K-12, through the Annual Newberry County School District Art Exhibit. The exhibit also includes the Graphic Design class from the Newberry County Career Center. NAC offered to host the annual show for the school district because there was no space available where the community could see 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional works of art created by their students in one location. Art instructors from each school select 15 pieces of diverse art types from their students to be displayed. On opening night of the show, parents, students, school and district administrators as well as the public line the sidewalk waiting for the doors to open. “We love our partnership with the Newberry Arts Center,” says Jennifer Jones, art instructor at Little Mountain Elementary School. “The students, parents and

the community get to see the work of students of all ages from across the district. Arts programming is extremely important in a child’s education and NAC helps us to educate the community on just how important these classes are to our students.” This year the annual art exhibit will also include quotes from the students on what creating art means to them and why it is so important. NAC is promoting literacy

through arts education by incorporating it into their art classes and camps for children and teens. Education, mental health and self-reflection can all be enhanced through the arts. Hosting the annual arts showcase helps these students shine and feel proud of their hard work making the community a better place for everyone. For more information on the Newberry Arts Center, visit NewberryArtsCenter.com or contact Marquerite Palmer at 803-321-1022.

Summer 2022 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 5

SCRPA MEMBER BRIEFS Southern Leisure Management & Trends Institute Held April 28-29

Amy Evans is a GameTime Community Champion

The 31st SCRPA Southern Leisure Management & Trends Institute was held in Columbia April 28-29. A big thank you to Landscape Structures for their support in helping us bring in three speakers for the institute, including Heather Benoit & Doug Thomas from Strategic Government Resources.

Congratulations to Amy Evans for being named a Community Champion by GameTime on their LinkedIn page! Amy is the Parks Director in Summerville, SC, and she recently completed the renovation of a community park to make it inclusive for everyone. The honor also includes a video showcasing the program.

City of Goose Creek Breaks Ground on New Creek Central Park On March 13th, the City of Goose Creek broke ground on their new Creek Central Park on Old Moncks Corner Road at the site of the former Casey Community Center. When it opens in 2023, the 13-acre, allabilities recreation complex will provide quality experiences to people of all ages and all abilities for many years to come.

The groundbreaking event included the unveiling of Debra’s Playground, which is named after Councilmember Debra Green-Fletcher, a passionate advocate for recreation and especially this all-inclusive park. It also included recognition for Roper St. Francis Healthcare, whose donation has made the park’s Casey Pavilion possible.

Other donors honored included Home Telecom and the Goose Creek Recreation Commission. The city will be sharing lots of details about this magnificent complex in the days and weeks ahead. Visit https://bit.ly/3Dtozxx to learn more about Central Creek Park.

Left to right: Mayor Habib, Goose Creek City Councilmembers, Recreation Director Crystal Reed, Assistant Recreation Director Nicole Murray and City Administrator Natalie Zeigler at the groundbreaking ceremony for Central Creek Park on March 31, 2022.

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Summer 2022 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 7

A GLIMPSE OF POPULAR SOUTH CAROLINA EVENTS THAT ARE WINNING OVER THEIR RESIDENTS & COMMUNITIES

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Town of Summerville Parks and Recreation

INCLUSIVE HALLOWEEN DANCE

Summer 2022 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 9

Town of Summerville Parks and Recreation

INCLUSIVE HALLOWEEN DANCE Starting in 2021, the Town of Summerville hosted our first Inclusive Halloween Dance. The Town hosts many special events and festivals throughout the year but this is one of our new favorites. The event is geared toward individuals within the special needs community and their families and was created as a way for all these people to come together and enjoy some spooktacular Halloween fun! The event features music, Halloween costumes, trick or treat bags, refreshments and lots of dancing and laughter. The event last year was a blast to host and we had an amazing group of people attend. We are looking forward to continuing to grow this event in 2022 and for years to come!

THE EVENT LAST YEAR WAS A BLAST TO HOST AND WE HAD AN AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE ATTEND. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO GROW THIS EVENT IN 2022 AND FOR YEARS TO COME!

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• www.scrpa.org 10 SOUTH 10 SOUTHCAROLINA CAROLINA Recreation Recreation andand ParksParks • www.scrpa.org

Spartanbug County Parks Department

EGGtober

What began as a way to use plastic eggs leftover from cancelled Easter events in 2020 due to COVID, has turned into a new favorite fall tradition. Each year, our staff members divide into teams of two called “Boo Crews” and we hide 6,000 black and orange eggs filled with stickers, toys and candy in front yards all across Spartanburg County. Families purchase the eggs ahead of time, limit five dozen per household. We put a sign in the yards, letting the children know we’ve been to their house and the hunting can begin!

WHAT BEGAN AS A WAY TO USE PLASTIC EGGS LEFTOVER FROM CANCELLED EASTER EVENTS IN 2020 DUE TO COVID, HAS TURNED INTO A NEW FAVORITE FALL TRADITION. Summer 2022 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 11

City of North Myrtle Beach Parks and Recreation

ST. PATRICK’S DAY FESTIVAL City of North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation just held its 32nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade on March 19th. This one-day event brings approximately 30,000 to North Myrtle Beach and offers a televised parade, 150 vendors, three stages of entertainment, festival food favorites, street performers, kids area with rides and games and much more! The festival includes a Best Leprechaun contest and a Shepard’s Pie eating contest that is always a crowd favorite.

THIS ONE-DAY EVENT BRINGS APPROXIMATELY 30,000 TO NORTH MYRTLE BEACH AND OFFERS A TELEVISED PARADE, 150 VENDORS, THREE STAGES OF ENTERTAINMENT, FESTIVAL FOOD FAVORITES, STREET PERFORMERS, KIDS AREA WITH RIDES AND GAMES AND MUCH MORE!

• www.scrpa.org 12 SOUTH 12 SOUTH CAROLINA CAROLINA Recreation Recreation andand Parks Parks • www.scrpa.org

Town of Mount Pleasant Recreation

BLESSING OF THE FLEET AND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL The Mount Pleasant Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival, presented by East Cooper Medical Center and Harris Teeter, at Mount Pleasant’s crown jewel, Memorial Waterfront Park on the Charleston Harbor, is South Carolina’s largest tribute event honoring the many generations of shrimpers and commercial fishermen who dedicate their lives to braving the ocean to provide us with fresh local seafood. Live music, a ceremonial blessing and boat parade, crafters’ village, beer garden, and plenty of local seafood offered by local restaurants make for one of the best spring events in our state.

LIVE MUSIC, A CEREMONIAL BLESSING AND BOAT PARADE, CRAFTERS’ VILLAGE, BEER GARDEN, AND PLENTY OF LOCAL SEAFOOD OFFERED BY LOCAL RESTAURANTS MAKE FOR ONE OF THE BEST SPRING EVENTS IN OUR STATE. Summer 2022 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 13

Greenville County Parks, Recreation and Tourism

GREENVILLE COUNTY SMASH Despite windy & cool conditions, nearly 360 athletes enjoyed two straight days of pickleball play at the Greenville County Smash tournament on April 8-9 at Southside Park. Dozens of round robin and medal round divisional matches spanned from sunup to sundown on the park’s twelve recently renovated, dedicated pickleball courts. The ‘center court’ even served up several pro vs. amateur matches, where athletes enjoyed playing against the likes of pros Corrine Carr and Adam Stone. In short order, the Smash has quickly become a staple on the Southeast’s pickleball circuit as a well-organized, high energy, ‘great value’ tournament that is not to be missed!

THE ‘CENTER COURT’ EVEN SERVED UP SEVERAL PRO VS. AMATEUR MATCHES, WHERE ATHLETES ENJOYED PLAYING AGAINST THE LIKES OF PROS CORRINE CARR AND ADAM STONE. • www.scrpa.org 14 SOUTH 14 SOUTHCAROLINA CAROLINA Recreation Recreation andand ParksParks • www.scrpa.org

City of Greer Parks and Recreation

EGGTASTIC EASTER EVENT With free inflatables, games, crafts, pictures with the Easter Bunny, and safe Egg hunts the entire time of the event, The City of Greer Eggtastic Easter event draws thousands of patrons. This year’s event was held April 9th in Century Park.

Summer 2022 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 15

Photo: Elyssa Haven

City of Newberry’s invitation to visitors:

Build Your Own Free Workout By Andrew Wigger, Editor, Newberry Observer (Reprinted with permission of the author) The City of Newberry, South Carolina is investing in a healthier community with the recent addition of outdoor fitness equipment at the Newberry Recreation Complex (1786 Glenn Street Extension, Newberry). The City of Newberry worked with West Columbia-based Total Strength and Speed/ Williams Strength to install the equipment. According to Josh Eachues, program coordinator for the Newberry Recreation Complex, the equipment is set up to use body weight, gravity, calisthenics and plyometrics to create a training session to accommodate individual needs. “Our goal at the Newberry Recreation Complex is to have something for everyone,

whether that be for children, casual walker or someone looking for a workout through this equipment,” said Mayor Foster Senn. The fitness equipment includes three sets of monkey bars; separate pull-up bars (pullups can also be done on monkey bars); sit up bench; knee raise bench; two movable step-up platforms; two chest/triceps dip stations; two battle ropes; one set of adjustable Jammer Arms; two circular wall ball targets; two landmine attachments. The only equipment not included are weight plates and balls for the wall ball targets (residents are free to bring their own.) “We are trying to provide something for the community; you need to go with the

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basics and that’s how we approached it. The equipment allows for core workout and bodyweight workouts: pull-ups, push-ups, dips, squats — the battle ropes are out there. Gives people a lot of options without a gym fee,” Eachues said. While the City of Newberry does not supply workout plans or offer programs for anyone using the equipment, (which is first come, first served use,) Eachues said they have a plan to get some signage with QR codes that will take visitors to a site that will offer suggestions. “We understand not everyone knows how to use the equipment and what to do. With everything going on in the world, we wanted

Photos: Andrew Wigger

Chapin resident, Nick Gills, stopped by the Newberry Recreation Complex to demonstrate the new fitness equipment.

people to have a free fitness option and an opportunity to get outside and use whatever knowledge they have,” he said. Nick Gills, 34, is a Chapin resident with the Instagram page, homegymhangout, he stopped by the Newberry Recreation Complex to demonstrate the aforementioned equipment. “There isn’t anything like this around, not to this magnitude. A large portion of the population can get out here on a regular basis, either by themselves or with their children who can play on the playground next door. You don’t have to bring much with you, the facility is pretty much set up to do everything you need to do to get a good workout,” Gills said. “I have a well-equipped home gym in my house, but

availability to be outside, meet like-minded people, meet new people — meet new friends, challenge you in a different way, get outside and enjoy nature while you get a good sweat in.” While going through the equipment, Gills said the fitness equipment will allow people to get in a multitude of workouts, including cardio, abs, arms, legs, shoulders.

“We wanted equipment that could be used at any ability level, with modifications,” he said. When it comes to weather protection, Eachues said there is a powder coating on the steel. He said, in essence, it should not have a problem with rust, but they will keep an eye on it.

“The city doing this for people is incredible,” he said.

“We have also thrown around the idea of possibly having coverage to provide shade,” he said.

As previously mentioned, the City of Newberry contracted with Total Strength and Speed/Williams Strength at a cost of approximately $30,000. In getting the equipment, Eachues said they wanted to get more “bang for their buck.”

The new outdoor fitness equipment is located behind the Gully Washer Splash Park at the Newberry Recreation Complex. For more information, call City of Newberry Parks Recreation and Tourism at 803-321-1015.

“There isn’t anything like this around, not to this magnitude. A large portion of the population can get out here on a regular basis, either by themselves or with their children who can play on the playground next door.” - Nick Gills. fitness equipment user Summer 2022 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 17

SPONSORED CONTENT

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Two long-time agency clients, Boise Parks and Recreation and Evanston Parks and Recreation, utilize a number of Issuu features in order to maximize their outreach. Boise uses Issuu’s “embed links” feature to link their social channels directly into their activity guide, providing a straightforward way for readers to find and follow their social media pages. The department also links sign-up pages directly in the guide, creating a seamless transition from simply reading to actually registering for an activity. Evanston embeds their Issuu guide directly onto their agency website, allowing readers to easily maneuver between reading the content and signing up for events. Not only has Issuu started to cultivate a large parks and recreation department user community, the company has worked with agencies to gain valuable feedback on their usage. Parks and Recreation agency representatives from around the country have shared their experiences in using the platform. Thomas Romano from the Lexington (MA) Parks and Recreation department described his favorite Issuu feature this

way: “I like to look [at the analytics page] to see how many people read it, for how long they did…. I use that information to build future brochures and figure out how many people read it compared to how many registrations we had.” Issuu is continually working to address the needs of parks and recreation users by learning which features of the platform are most helpful. By doing so, the company is able to customize the platform based on those recommendations, expand functions, and provide special services for this sector. Issuu strives to be a tremendous asset for your marketing and enrollment efforts. Through their wide variety of services and unparalleled commitment to customer satisfaction, Issuu wants to be your go-to resource for distribution of parks and recreation content.

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Summer 2022 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 19

Partners S & RECREATION K R PA

South Carolina agencies working together with peers and community organizations to help the greater good

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Solving a Puzzle By Bates McKinney, Spartanburg County Parks Department “Your partner in community wellness” is more than just a tagline for Spartanburg County Parks Department; it is our mission. The residents of Spartanburg County have so many interests and needs and we know that we cannot meet all of these requests alone. However, thanks to partnerships with other organizations and municipalities, we can bridge more gaps and meet more needs. A prime example of teamwork is the Spartanburg Council on Aging (SCOA). SCOA was formed in 2015 with the joint desire to help seniors in Spartanburg County. Spartanburg Regional Foundation serves as the grant holder, Spartanburg County Parks runs the day-to-day programs at eight community centers, Spartanburg Regional Transportation gets seniors to the community centers and back home, and Mobile Meals provides food for those who are homebound. The SCOA partnership is strong, but the partners still realize they need other community members to achieve the goal of reaching seniors’ needs.

taught the students how to Jitterbug and the students taught the seniors The Wobble. Lifelong friendships were formed. Food insecurity and the need for transportation are two serious concerns for seniors. Through partnerships with Spartanburg Regional Transportation and CenterWell Senior Primary Care, we were able to transport participants at one community center to a food distribution event where they were able to leave with fresh fruit and vegetables that they could use immediately. Spartanburg County Parks Department realizes we cannot be the answer for everyone’s needs. Rather, we can be a resource and bring our skills to the table. Partnering with other organizations and/or municipalities is not about competing or overlapping opportunities, it is about filling our particular niche to solve problems. As Gary Busey pointed out, “TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More.”

Intergenerational Connections Workshops came from a partnership with Wofford College. Students in a Gerontological Psychology class started leading activities at our community centers. The students were responsible for the lesson plan for that day’s activity. The students had dialogues with the seniors about historical events that they lived through. The students and seniors exchanged ideas; the seniors

Summer 2022 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 21

Reaching New Audiences Through Partners Who Share Your Values By Sarah Reynolds, Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission

For years, Charleston County Parks has worked with like-minded organizations area to collaborate on projects and reach new audiences. Our agency’s marketing partnerships are excellent examples of how working with other organizations can greatly expand your agency’s reach in the community. Charleston County Parks works with a wide variety of partners with whom we share similar visions and values, including the South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston County Public Library, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and local minor league sports teams. Each partnership is tailored to the opportunities and needs provided by each relationship.

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With the South Carolina Aquarium, we have cultivated a mutually beneficial relationship that is public relations and educationoriented. In addition to some marketing trade elements, we work with the aquarium staff to educate the public on conservation. Messages have included the need to protect marine life by keeping local waterways clean when visiting the parks, and signage at boat landings to discourage littering and discarding of fishing line. The aquarium also went the extra mile and adopted one of our busiest boat landings, arranging volunteer groups to do regular trash cleanups there. We also work with the aquarium to coordinate turtle releases at our beach parks, which provides them with plenty of beach access and crowd control for these popular events. On the fine arts side, CCPRC has partnered with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra to perform at an event supporting the Charleston County Parks Foundation’s Cultural History Fund. This fund supports research, preservation, interpretation, and education for diverse audiences with an emphasis on underrepresented histories. Another fundraising event with the CSO is planned at McLeod Plantation Historic Site this fall. CCPRC also sponsors the Charleston County Public Library’s summer reading program, encouraging reading by providing Gold Passes – our top-tier park membership - for top summer readers. The Charleston County Public Library also installed a StoryWalk at three of our parks, posting pages from children’s books along trails so families can read as they traverse the pathways.

Our local sports teams have also become valued partners of Charleston County Parks. We have developed marketing-based agreements and sponsorships of minor league teams: the Charleston Riverdogs (baseball), the South Carolina Stingrays (ice hockey) and the Charleston Battery (soccer club). Each team provides in-stadium signage for CCPRC, themed sponsorship nights in which we have the opportunity to attend a game and interact with their fans, and various other promotional opportunities such as PA reads, video board

ads, radio broadcast promotions, mascot appearances, ticket discounts for our Gold Pass holders and more. All of these partnerships have been cultivated over years of relationship building, research and teamwork. Each partnership helps us reach new audiences and fan bases that are similar to ours, but might not be familiar with our offerings. Furthermore, they provide wonderful opportunities for positive public relations and community outreach.

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Aiken Gets Fit

City of Aiken Partners with the National Fitness Campaign - a Nationwide Initiative to Plan and Build Healthy Infrastructure By Jessica Campbell, City of Aiken In February 2020 the City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism (PRT) Department unveiled its newest quality of life addition at Beverly D. Clyburn Generations Park, a sleek and modern outdoor Fitness Court® with a supporting mobile app. This capital project is a featured part of an initiative launched by National Fitness Campaign (NFC), a nationwide consulting organization that partners with cities to plan, build and fund healthy infrastructure. Aiken, along with dozens of other select recipients from around the country, was awarded a $30,000 grant from NFC to help support the program. In addition to grant funding, a city match contributed to make the project possible. This partnership allows PRT to provide fitness free to the community, and challenges everyone to get outside and be active!

to transform public spaces into community fitness hubs. The outdoor space builds community while being fun to use. National Fitness Campaign (NFC) is a social enterprise – founded in San Francisco, California in 1979 – that offers grant funding, project management and master planning services to cities, schools and sponsors to promote healthy infrastructure. The Fitness Court® is a trademarked system created by founder, Mitch Menaged, designed to be the world’s best outdoor gym. Its mission is to bring communities together: to build for health, and plan for people. Learn more about NFC at: nationalfitnesscampaign.com.

The Fitness Court® is an open-air wellness center that allows users to leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout. Created with adults of all ages in mind, the Fitness Court is adaptable for all fitness levels. Users can also download the free Fitness Court App — a coach-in-your-pocket style platform — that transforms the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness ecosystem. The Fitness Court App, entitled “Fitness Court”, is available for iOS and Android. National Fitness Campaign developed the trademarked seven-station system in 2012 hoping to inspire municipalities

24 SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks • www.scrpa.org

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Summer 2022 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 25

Partnership Leads to Track Triumph By Jack Whitbeck, Mount Pleasant Recreation Department This smart partnership bridged related needs from two entities separated by the Cooper River. The Mount Pleasant Recreation Department (MPRD) planned to renovate the track at Town Hall, and the College of Charleston Track & Field Team needed a place to train. Both Steve Gergick, Director of Recreation, and Amy Seago, Track & Field Head Coach, say the resulting partnership was an absolute win-win for the greater community. Space limitations and time restrictions created a near 20-year-long challenge for the coach and her team. Over time, they had driven to various high schools, colleges and public fields to train. Seagohad reached out to countless people over the years, looking for a more permanent place for her program. This included MPRD, but previous timing was never right. When Seago heard of plans to refurbish the Town Hall Track, she quickly ran to MPRD with a possible plan. Since there wasn’t a conflict with the Town’s use of the facilities, Gergick pledged a commitment to develop the partnership. The teamwork makes the dream work! MPRD’s plan included new lighting and resurfacing the track. The college agreed to pay for a collegiate-level upgrade to the track surface along with a long and high jump. The newly constructed storage shed stores the college’s pole vault, hurdles, medicine balls, and other training equipment. Its exterior provided the perfect surface for a mural and the name of the facility. Other improvements to the facilities include covered bleachers for spectators, a new scoreboard, and new goal posts.

26 SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks • www.scrpa.org

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Lightweight and Long Lasting Pedestrian Bridges In addition, modern lighting minimizes the illumination of nearby homes and includes a timed push-button for the track, lighting the way for evening resident runners. Although many proposed partnerships don’t equally benefit both parties, this one did. Town of Mount Pleasant residents now have use of a top-level track along with many other amenities. The College of Charleston Track & Field program finally has a home. Coaches and college athletes are thrilled to be able to use the track daily. It’s worth noting that even before landing a homebase, Seago’s athletes captured 22 conference titles and earned nine NCAA regional appearances! MPRD is pleased with the ongoing partnership and can’t wait to see what Seago is able to accomplish now that her program has a permanent place to practice. The real reward is seeing a diverse group, from dawn to dusk, staying active at the upgraded facility.

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Summer 2022 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 27

Making the Most of Your Partnerships By Jan Cox, City of Greenville According to the National Recreation and Parks Association there are more than 105,000 local parks in the United States. These parks range from small neighborhood parks to regional recreation complexes to protected nature preserves to state parks. As parks and recreation professionals, we are (and should be) proud of the parks in our communities. We know that parks and recreation is essential to healthy and thriving communities; however, the question that always arises is, how can we attract more people to our parks? For the past nine years, LiveWell Greenville, along with a committed group of Upstate South Carolina municipalities and organizations have organized an initiative to increase park awareness and park-based physical activity and create an annual tradition for residents to enjoy. Upstate

Park Hop is a summer long scavenger hunt across multiple park locations. Each year local parks & recreation agencies choose parks to highlight and create clues that promote physical activity within the park. Families can sign up for free and are able to complete the scavenger hunt passport on paper or by using the Park Hop app. In addition, all Upstate Park Hop information includes a Spanish version in order to be more inclusive of the local community. At the end of the summer, families that turn in their scavenger hunt passports are included in a giveaway to win prizes from the coordinating agencies. The more parks they visit and the more clues they answer, the more prizes they get! Since 2013, the Upstate Park Hop program has continued to grow and encourages residents to discover new parks in the Upstate and to get outside and to be active.

28 SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks • www.scrpa.org

Building Relationships Upstate Park Hop demonstrates the innovative and impactful results that occur when parks and recreation agencies work together. There are nine parks and recreation agencies that meet throughout the year to plan and to improve the program. The shared responsibilities and the close connection of the team are integral in fostering a community that values active living. Upstate Park Hop coordinating agencies: • Greenville County Parks, Recreation & Tourism • City of Greer Parks & Recreation • City of Spartanburg Parks & Recreation • City of Greenville Parks, Recreation & Tourism • City of Mauldin Parks & Recreation • City of Fountain Inn Parks & Recreation • Spartanburg County Parks & Recreation • City of Simpsonville Parks & Recreation • City of Travelers Rest

Partnerships are increasingly being embraced as a strategy in community efforts to enhance public health. “The Upstate Park Hop program is a shining example of how collective impact can maximize community resources and drive program success through strong partnership collaboration,” said Sabrina Smith, LiveWell Greenville’s Operations Director. Upstate Park Hop representatives emphasize the importance of building interpersonal relationships across organizational boundaries. This group has a close connection that has been a critical factor in the success of the program. The healthy relationships go beyond just the program. Building a culture where various city and county staff and cross-sector teams can work together in a cordial, professional and productive fashion has benefited the health of the Upstate community. Further, the partnering agencies perceive their primary health partnership contributions to be the provision of facilities, access to key target markets, and enhanced image/ visibility of the partnerships. We are a group of competing agencies coming together to work towards a better community for all.

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Planning Park Hop Upstate Park Hop has several components that contribute to a successful initiative each summer. First, staff from participating agencies work together to develop the scavenger hunt - identifying parks, creating clues, and developing both a paper and mobile app version of the passport. Simultaneously, the team works to implement the communications strategy and prepare for its launch. During the summer, the Upstate Park Hop team secures community prizes to support the initiative, monitors participation and communication and plans the final prize give away. According to the number of visits per individual the more prizes the participant receives after the program ends. This successful model has increased in participation during the past few years. In 2019, there were 1040 children registered and 436 active families. In 2021, with more parks to visit, the participation has grown to nearly 2400 registered Park Hoppers and 746 active families. Thanks to the collaboration of all local parks and recreation agencies and several local businesses/organizations across the Upstate, Park Hop has grown to an annual active living tradition for families visiting parks. Park Hop partners will soon be planning for the 10th Annual Park Hop, with a continued emphasis on increasing participation from children and families with less access to physical activity opportunities.

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SPRING 2022

KS ASSOCIATION RECREATION & PAR

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WINTER

2021 RECREATION & PAR KS ASSOCIATION

2021 SCRPA Annual Conference Schedule Inside

WHEELS

Meet the Keynote Speaker & Learn About Sessions

AL OR

Creating Equity in Parks & Recreation Across South Carolina

A L L FO R

UP!

FROM THE GROUND UP

IN LEARNING ENGAGING YOUTH TO RIDE BIKES & BOARDS

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• 2021 Award Winners a Selfless Gift • 8-Year-Old Makes & Mount Pleasant • Events in Cheraw Operations • Dog Park Design &

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Fall 2022

Submit your magazine article ideas (or articles) to Kristen Guilfoos at kguilfoos@spartanburgcounty.org.

COMMERCIAL INDUSTRY PARTNERS:

• Meet the 2021-22 SCRPA Board • Here’s What’s Happening

Issue

AGENCY MEMBERS:

Primary Theme

Secondary Themes

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Articles Due

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Publish Date

June 24 2022

June 27 2022

July 2022

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Growing up in the Parks

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Winter 2022

Beyond the Business Card

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What staff bring to their jobs - methods, special training, new skills.

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Spring 2023

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How seniors contribute to park and recreation departments. What agencies are doing for their 50+ community.

2022 Award Winners Recognizing outstanding achievements in South Carolina agencies

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SCRPA Magazine - Summer 2022

Articles inside

Spartanburg County

Issuu

The Association Report

Spartanburg County

Town of Mount Pleasant

City of Greer

Cunningham Recreation

Build Your Own Free Workout in Newberry

City of North Myrtle Beach