SCRPA Magazine - Fall 2020

32 FALL 2020

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SOUTH CAROLINA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RECREATION & PARKS ASSOCIATION

2020 Board of Directors EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Kevin Stiens Spartanburg County President Elect Randy Woodard Charleston County Vice President Dustin Jordan City of Myrtle Beach

Secretary Open Treasurer Amy Evans Town of Summerville Past President Doyle Best City of North Charleston Central VP Katherine Small Lancaster County

Eastern VP Nathan Dawsey Florence County Southern VP Shaniqua Simmons City of Orangeburg Western VP Brad Cuttino City of Greenville

BRANCHES - 1 YEAR COMMITMENTS ELM Branch Eric Stewart Charleston County

Programming Amy Peebles Kershaw County

PRM Branch Darien Alston Richland County

SCAP Branch BJ Bellville Lexington County Student Branch Leslie Ballard City of Rock Hill

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

The Association Report............................................................................4 Here’s What’s Happening.........................................................................6 A Slice of Camp in Greenville County................................................. 8-9 Keep Calm and “G.R.A.B.” Some Summer Fun..............................10-11 State Parks Adjust to New Normal........................................................ 12 Summer Camps…Reimagined............................................................... 13 Setting the Social Distancing Standard................................................14 Unsung Heroes - People Who Go Above-And-Beyond............... 16-21 South Carolina Dog Parks.......................................................................23 You Really CAN Lead a Horse to Water.......................................... 24-25 Helping Fido & Fifi Stay Fit............................................................... 26-27 Overcoming Communication Barriers During COVID-19...................29 Considerations When Sourcing Outdoor Signage....................... 30-31

ADVERTISER INDEX Barrs Recreation....................................................................... Back Cover Carolina Parks & Play............................................................................... 11 Cunningham Recreation...........................................................................5 Discount Playground Supply....................................................................7 Federal Supply USA.................................................................................19 Fitfields.....................................................................................................27 Gyms for Dogs.........................................................................................28 iZone Imaging..........................................................................................31 Most Dependable Fountains.....................................Inside Front Cover RJ Thomas Mfg / Pilot Rock....................................................................15 Sport Court Carolina.................................................................................7 Wood + Partners Inc.................................................................................3

Creating Great Places!

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

Membership Services Coordinator Melissa Williams melissa@scrpa.org

SCRPA MAGAZINE/MARKETING COMMITTEE Kristen Guilfoos Chair Spartanburg County

Lucas Vance Central Rep Fairfield County

Gina Ellis-Strother Southern Rep Charleston County

Bethany Doman Vice Chair City of Charleston

Victoria Singeltary Eastern Rep City of Florence

Gabriella Porter Western Rep City of Greenville

Park Planning & Design Greenways & Trails Recreation Needs Assessments Sports Complexes

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 SCRPA magazine, contact Todd Pernsteiner at todd@pernsteiner.com or (952) 841-1111.

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Fall 2020 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 3

THE ASSOCIATION REPORT Kevin Stiens

“Summer’s lease hath all too short a date.”

As we roll into the fall season, we hope that each of you are doing well. The Association will be in Spartanburg for our 75th annual conference/anniversary in September. We hope to see many of you there.

Our profession had a huge win in July as the Land and Water Conservation program (LWCF) was passed by the US Congress to be permanently and fully funded. Special thanks goes to Congressman Joe Cunningham (SC01) for being the lead sponsor of that bill. Also, a large shout out to the following Congressmen: Joe Wilson (SC02), Jeff Duncan (SC03) and James Clyburn (SC06) The President signed this bill on August 4th. What does this mean?

South Carolina will now receive approximately $5.2 - 5.8 million per year for this program. We will no longer have to fight this each year to ensure funding is in place. Agencies will now be able to plan on applying for and have access to those federal funds each year. This coupled with the State of South Carolina’s PARD funds, that are guaranteed at $3 million per year, now gives our members access to over $8 million each year in funding for acquisition and development (including rehabilitation of old LWCF projects) for outdoor public park and recreation use! This does not include the other funding options that your association continues to advocate on your behalf for such as Undiscovered South Carolina, Recreation Trails Program and the local use of accommodation tax and hospitality tax.

On the continuing education side, SCRPA held zoom meetings with members in the Eastern District (Thanks to Nathan Dawsey) centered around athletics. The planning for our Athletic Institute, in December, continues as does The Programming Summit, in February, both will be in Hilton Head. Our Management & Trends Institute, typically held in Columbia, is in the initial phases of planning as well. In the area of virtual training, SCRPA and The Illinois Parks & Recreation Association entered into an agreement back in December (PRE COVID) that we hope many of you/your

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

Jim Headley

- William Shakespeare

agencies took advantage of. It has been listed in snapshot since January and was advertised in our newsletters. Also pre COVID-19, we have been offering trainings with the Florida Recreation & Parks Association. Both of these programs are excellent advantages of your membership in action. SCRPA is exploring some other opportunities for you to learn virtually, if you are not comfortable being in our traditional in-person opportunities. The CPSI course, held in conjunction with NRPA, is 100% virtual. SCPRA and Playcore/Gametime launched an initiative for education, research and funding. We had over 50 agencies go through the 2-hour education program.

With many of your programs and facilities continuing to be affected

by COVID-19, SCRPA has been on the forefront representing you and our profession during the pandemic. We worked with SC DSS to assist those of you who can work with their school districts to offer after school care in districts where five-day-a-week schooling is not offered. There is a form on the DSS web site that offers a temporary certificate to operate an after school care program (longer than the current 4 hour exemption). We also continue to work with the accelerateSC program on providing guidance to areas that impact our profession. We continuously work with SC PRT on providing guidance on the sports tourism front.

Just because we can’t always be together in person doesn’t mean that SCRPA hasn’t continued to help fight for our profession and provide avenues for all our member agencies. We look forward to all being able to get back together celebrate the success that we all have done together!

We are here for you, so please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours in public parks,

Kevin & Jim

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Fall 2020 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 5

#HeresWhatsHappening

Snapshots of programming in SCRPA member agencies ville mer Sum e Run Hom y Derb

Monck’s Corner Miracle League Donations

e its fi rst Hom v il le hosted er m m Su of rs n io Tow n si n g loca l se (Above) T he 2020, showca e n Ju 9.

-1 in ID by V O e to C Ru n Der e cut shor t du er w s on as se whose

(At lef t) Volunteers, includ ing sta ff members from other pa rks depa rtments in the area , showed up to help clean up Jaycee Pa rk in Pickens after it wa s deva stated by a large flood.

od Pickens Flo s er te n Volu

Charlesto n County Sprint Tria thalon

(At right) What a sweet way to give back! A group of young ladies in Monck’s Corner set up a produce and lemona de stand to raise money for the new Miracle League Field.

(At left) Cha rleston Cou nty Parks put on a sociallydistanced Spr int Triathlon on July 12. The star t of the race was staggered to ensure six feet of spa ce and par ticipants were required to brin g their own water bottles. Althoug h spectators weren’t allowed on the cou rse, the agency used Facebook Live to allow friends and fam ily to cheer from home.

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

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Fall 2020 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 7

Making the Most of Summer 2020 PROGRAMMING during a CRISIS

A Slice of Camp

Maintaining the Spirit of Summer Camp Despite a Pandemic

By Randy Murr, Therapeutic Recreation Manager, Greenville County Parks, Recreation, & Tourism

The month of March is both an exciting and hectic time for summer camp administrators.

Exciting because plans are taking shape, young people recruited for staff months ago are being hired, and direct contact with eager camper families takes place daily. It’s a very hectic time because the proverbial clock is ticking loudly! Camper registration season is in full swing, facility preparations are ongoing, summer staff will be moving into the cabins in early May, supplies are being inventoried and ordered, and on and on it goes.

Camp Spearhead’s administrators were busy with the myriad of tasks necessary for the beginning of the 53rd summer camp season when, all of a sudden, a national emergency was declared on March 13th. Governor McMaster ordered schools to close on March 15th, and we were in the early stages of

Camp Spearhead is a special needs camp operated by Greenville County Parks, Recreation, & Tourism and is located in northern Greenville County. The mission of Spearhead is to provide an environment of unconditional acceptance for children and adults with special needs.

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

determining what it all meant for recreation in general and summer camp in particular.

New terminology, safety protocols, charts, statistics, data – and what you thought you had learned one day seemed to be different the next. As each day passed and the public health crisis developed (or deteriorated), serious consideration about what summer camp would look like was crucial and we reluctantly began to admit and conclude that it may not be safe to bring campers and staff to camp this summer. Ultimately that is the conclusion we came to – for the first time in 53 years, there would be no

summer camp season at Camp Spearhead.

Camp Spearhead is a special needs camp operated by Greenville County Parks, Recreation, & Tourism and is located in northern Greenville County. The mission of Spearhead is to provide an environment of unconditional acceptance for children and adults with special needs. The summer camp season is highly valued and in great demand by the nearly 500 families served and each camp week fills to capacity and beyond. A summer without camp? How do we tell our families and campers? Many

of the families rely on us for a little bit of respite from the demands of caring for their loved one, so what are they going to do? Will they be upset with us? Can we do anything to continue the spirit of camp even if we aren’t together? Yes! Innovation and resilience are always important character qualities for summer camp professionals. Clearly, summer 2020 was going to require these qualities more than ever. After much brainstorming, speaking with other summer camp professionals, and participating in webinars about virtual programming, we recognized that for us, and our camp culture, the important thing was to maintain and communicate the spirit of camp and its mission, and to deliver that into the homes of our campers. The solution for accomplishing this was a series of videos called A Slice of Camp.

Each week our team of administrators produced a 10–15 minute video presenting a different slices of camp that campers cherish, highlighting all the best parts of camp. In all, the series offered eleven videos – eight regular episodes and three specials.

At the conclusion of what would have been the summer camp season the video series had a combined total of over 15,000 views on various social media platforms and camper families were thrilled.

Summer 2020 is one we all hope will not repeat itself but it taught us that the spirit of camp can, indeed, be maintained (even if only in slices) despite a pandemic.

Fall 2020 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 9

Keep Calm and “G.R.A.B.” Some Summer Fun Making the most of an unprecedented summer

By Kayla Ellenwood and Jan Cox, City of Greenville Parks & Recreation Like many departments across the country, we were met with a new challenge of delivering safe programming during the COVID-19 pandemic. Traditionally, hundreds of children would descend into our five community centers for summer camp. However, with the pandemic shutting our doors, staff members made it their mission to put together fun, creative and educational content and programs to make summer a fun and active time while at home.

One program was the Greenville Recreation Activity Box (G.R.A.B.).

With nine different themed boxes, we were able to provide over two

months’ worth of fun, creative, and educational activities to keep children, ages 5-12, engaged all summer long.

Each week, boxes were packed with 10 activities such as art, STEM, games and more with supplies enough for two children and stepby-step directions. Activity boxes were purchased online for $15 per box and families were given weekly times and locations for pick up.

Promotion for the boxes was done through our social media pages and website. A few local media outlets partnered with us to help promote the program as well.

With nine different themed boxes, we were able to provide over two months’ worth of fun, creative, and educational activities to keep children, ages 5-12, engaged all summer long.

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

Weekly Theme Breakdown: • Summer Fun • The Great Outdoors • What Goes Up Must Come Down • Destination USA: Red, White & Blue • World Traveler • Christmas in July • Under the Sea • Out of this World • Greenville Rocks We started with 50 boxes the first week, and they sold out immediately online and several weeks of boxes sold out before the deadline. The cost for the department was minimal, due to the items came from our art rooms, at-home items, and items bought at bulk from online stores.

Each week we had all staff on board to prepare boxes and push out to a variety of recreation sites for convenient pick-up for families.

The support for the program was overwhelming. An average of 50 boxes were sold each week, reaching roughly a hundred children.

Grandparents, looking to provide time-consuming fun for their grandkids, were a big proponent of the boxes. We encouraged parents to share their child doing the activities with us on our social media pages. This was a definite highlight for us to see each week.

Although this was not the summer we hoped for or planned, the outpouring appreciation and positive feedback from the community for our G.R.A.B. program was a testament to just how much Parks and Recreation is needed and valued whether it be in-person or virtual.

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Fall 2020 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 11

State Parks Adjust to New Normal By: Dawn Dawson-House, Director of Corporate Communicat​ions, SC Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Like most businesses and facilities, South Carolina state parks adjusted to a new normal under the Coronavirus pandemic. Not only did they follow protocols set by the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, they also closed properties for one month as the state came to terms with the challenge it was facing.

State parks began its retreat from COVID-19 in March by closing its group-gathering spaces like community buildings, wedding venues and picnic shelters. Within a week, the Park Service also closed campgrounds as it adjusted to new health and safety standards.

The goal was to keep open space available to the growing number of people who were seeking social distancing options but limit visitation at places where groups tend to gather.

Throughout the month of April, however, after Governor Henry McMaster issued executive orders to stay at home or work, all of South Carolina’s 47 state park properties were closed.

This was especially challenging because two of the most popular seasons for state park campgrounds fell in the month of April this year – the Easter holiday week and public school spring break. In addition to a $3.5 million loss in revenue for a typical April, the Park Service also refunded about $2.5 million in rental reservations.

Nonetheless, the Park Service remained engaged with this customer base. Instead of opening its campgrounds, the Park Service hosted a virtual Easter Egg Hunt on its website, inviting families to find “hidden eggs” within its pages. Later in April, the

Park Service hosted a virtual campout with the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service, inviting people to camp in their own back yards and follow demonstrations on how to pitch a tent, make s’mores and enjoy many other activities.

The Park Service also offered virtual interpretive events on Facebook Live several times per week beginning in mid March. Naturalists and interpreters showcased the types of wildlife that can be found on parks. The series had reached more than 852,000 people, garnered more than 332,000 video views and more than 20,000 post reactions.

Although not part of the Facebook Live series, the May 1 Parks re-opening video “Pass the Keys” reached more than 1.6 million people and had more than 932,000 video views, 69,000 reactions and 9,000 comments. It was shared more than 14,000 times When state parks reopened to day-use on May 1, campgrounds were scheduled to open one week later with a few adjustments: • Visitors had to wear masks if they were going to interact with park staff • Park stores and gift shops operated under smaller, limited capacity and had plexiglass partitions installed at registers • Bathhouses and restrooms were sanitized more frequently • Everyone was encouraged to social distance, wash hands often and use hand sanitizer • No gatherings of more than 50 people were allowed in picnic shelters or other group gathering spaces With these new standards in place, state parks opened up to large crowds and high demand. Coastal parks that usually reach capacity five or six times every year were doing so almost every weekend in May, June and July. Inland parks that had rarely closed gates due to high visitation – like Paris Mountain in Greenville, Table Rock in Pickens and Givhans Ferry near Walterboro – were closing gates by early afternoon.

State parks in South Carolina continue to be busy almost every day as visitors and staff adjust to this new normal.

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

Summer Camps…Reimagined By: Allyson All, CPRP, Program Manager – Children’s Programs Division, City of North Charleston Recreation It’s no secret that times have certainly changed around the world.

With COVID-19 on the rise, Parks and Recreation professionals had to get creative when it came to planning summer camp. The City of North Charleston Recreation Department was certainly no different. In a typical summer, our department manages 19 summer camp locations, providing over 750 children with exhilarating field trips, pool days, and much more fun. As you can imagine, it takes months of planning to make summer camp an experience that lasts a lifetime.

Although the future of our recreation programs remained uncertain, with businesses opening back up, we were challenged by our elected officials to find a way to allow parents an opportunity to return to work while knowing their children were safe. After working closely with city officials and routinely monitoring trends and updated guidance from our healthcare professionals, we chose to move forward with a modified version of summer camp. With the safety of our staff and participants as our top priority, our staff worked tirelessly to create procedures and develop modifications to ensure summer camp was able to operate as safely as possible.

Staff participated in SCRPA Online Programming Socials, as well as served on the SCRPA Summer Camp Best Practices Committee, ensuring we were following CDC guidelines while providing an overall exciting experience for kids.

In order to efficiently run camp while adhering to building capacity and social distancing limitations, we reduced our summer camp to nine locations with a total of 150 registered campers.

Campers were assigned to small groups of no more than ten individuals, interacting only with that small group while remaining socially distanced from all other camp groups.

Groups were assigned to a specific location of the building and tape was used on the floor to clearly identify those areas. Camper drop-off and pick-up took place outside of the building while parents remained in their vehicle. Campers’ temperatures were taken before they could exit their vehicles and again at lunch time. In addition, all campers were provided with a personal package of art supplies (crayons, markers, scissors, glue, etc.) to be used during camp to eliminate shared use.

While field trips and off-site visits were canceled, that didn’t stop the summer camp fun! Our Cultural Arts Department worked to provide weekly instructional activities at every summer camp location. These activities took place outdoors and included dance, arts and crafts, visual arts, and much more. Our Fire and Police Departments facilitated drive-by parades featuring enormous fire engines and roaring police sirens, while our staff and campers cheered them on. Our summer camp staff worked hard to create and modify games and activities that provided campers with positive experiences and enrichment.

Overall, the key to success this summer was the ability to adapt to challenges and to work together as a city to make necessary adjustments, all while continuously communicating with city officials, camp staff, and participant families. While it certainly was not easy, the smile on each child’s face made it worth it!

Fall 2020 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 13

Setting the Social Distancing Standard…

One Bear Sign at a Time By: Liz Boles, Chau Ram County Park The reopening of parks after the initial quarantine closure prompted a flurry of activity as parks like ours rushed to prepare their facilities for the public’s return. In addition to a rigorous cleaning and disinfecting routine, we also wanted to create signage to remind our visitors to maintain social distancing.

We came up with a low cost, eye catching design that could sneak in a bit of wildlife interpretation into the social distancing message.

I had seen cute signs put out by various organizations like zoos and national parks with similar messages describing the number of animals that make up 6 feet, but I really wanted a strong visual to show them exactly how long that was.

Materials: • Exterior paint (we used black, brown, blue, grey, navy blue, white, and yellow) • Paint brushes/rollers • 3/8” thick 4’x8’ plywood sheets 2’x2’ stakes • 1 ½” and 3” deck screws for mounting • Jigsaw with fresh fine cut blades (don’t forget your PPE! Earplugs and safety glasses, pretty please) • Sandpaper

We chose a black bear and a great blue heron for our signs and found clipart silhouettes of these animals online. I printed out the clipart and drew a grid over the design, then drew a grid onto the plywood and scaled up the image, drawing it on with a pencil. You could use a small projector and project the image onto the wood and trace it that way.

Next, cut out your animal with a jigsaw.

Take your time to get a good cut. After the first copy is made, you can trace your cutout for each new sign you want to make. We made three of each.

Paint two coats on your creature with exterior paint on the front and back. We used a base coat of black on the bear and grey on the heron. Add details to bring your animal to life! We kept things simple and took a minimalist approach.

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

Lastly, we printed off a simple sign reading: “The average male black bear is 6 feet long from nose to tail. Please keep one black bear length apart at all times.” We drove stakes into the ground and attached creatures to them with deck screws. The herons were mounted to trees or existing signage.

We have had such great feedback on our creatures, and they have the added benefit of appearing in lots of photos with visitors. The heron is especially popular as kids love to stretch out their “wings” to test their wingspan next to it! We hope that these signs will make an impression with visitors as well as a reminder about social distancing that will be seen by all that view the photos.

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Fall 2020 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 15

ls AN D GU ESTS who a n io ss fe o r p EC R & PAR K d the call of duty n o ey -b d n -a ve o b a go

WHEN EXPERIENCE MATTERS SUPERHERO: TROY JENKINS, MOUNT PLEASANT PUBLIC SERVICES

By: Bethany Heasley, Mount Pleasant Recreation Department Although the Mount Pleasant Recreation Department (MPRD) is full of dedicated team members, there is one unsung hero that helps make it all happen – Troy Jenkins from Mount Pleasant Public Services.

Troy, a trusted employee of the Town of Mount Pleasant for over 25 years, works alongside our special events, athletic, and program staff to assist in set up and break down, maintaining facilities, and much more. He masters the art of efficient, trustworthy work, whether it be mending a fence of our baseball

field, clearing wasp nests ahead of the Farmers Market crowds, or leading his crew in the setup of a much-anticipated event.

We simply could not execute successfully without his expertise.

In April, when our Farmers Market pivoted to meet the CDC guidelines, Troy was managing the stress of a much smaller team due to COVID. Still, he graciously showed up for us, no questions asked. He helped prepare our facility, gave advice and provided contacts, along with leading his team to successfully provide a safe environment for our local farmers and community patrons.

Since then, our department has made strides in re-opening our facilities in a safe manner with Troy at our side every step of the way. He worked tirelessly to ensure our parks were ready for reopening in early summer. Once the parks were reopened, he pivoted to oversee the sports facilities maintenance ahead of outdoor summer sports and is now providing advisement on special event set up, as we anticipate our first special event since the initial pandemic closures.

Troy is a trusted member of our team on the clock, and a trusted friend to many off the clock. If ever there was someone who will go above and beyond to accomplish a task, it is Troy. The Town of Mount Pleasant is incredibly lucky to employ a true public servant in every sense of the word.

TROY IS A TRUSTED MEMBER OF OUR TEAM ON THE CLOCK, AND A TRUSTED FRIEND TO MANY OFF THE CLOCK. 16 SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks • www.scrpa.org

USING DOWNTIME TO IMPROVE AWARD-WINNING FIELDS SUPERHERO: MONCKS CORNER PUBLIC SERVICE DEPARTMENT

By: Becky Ellison, Recreation Director, Town of Moncks Corner The 2019 South Carolina Sports Turf Managers Association Baseball Field of the Year goes to the Town of Moncks Corner. Then, COVID-19 hit… As our Public Service Director, Logan Faulkner anticipated being recognized in front of Town Council for this extraordinary award, but he was sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our town offices closed, and all recreation activities came to a halt, but Faulkner gathered his team and began implementing several beautification projects throughout the park and town. As the pandemic progressed, the

Public Service Department transitioned from maintaining the facilities for daily use to integrating several projects to keep our parks on the cutting edge of beautification and repairing damage from overuse. “Seeing children and adults playing on our fields daily is what recreation is all about, yet through this closure we were able to do much needed maintenance on all fields and entrance to our complex,” said Faulkner.

The Town of Moncks Corner has not only maintained the beauty of all of our parks by making some much needed turf repairs, but they have also added flowers

and palmetto trees throughout the park during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our Public Service department has worked diligently to create a beautiful masterpiece, from the freshly planted colorful flowers in hanging baskets along Main Street, to keeping the streets cleaned, and planting trees through-out the Regional Recreation Complex. Our goal is to provide fields with the best playing surfaces for all of our participants. We are proud of the Regional Recreation Complex. It is truly a masterpiece in the making.

“SEEING CHILDREN AND ADULTS PLAYING ON OUR FIELDS DAILY IS WHAT RECREATION IS ALL ABOUT, YET THROUGH THIS CLOSURE WE WERE ABLE TO DO MUCH NEEDED MAINTENANCE ON ALL FIELDS AND ENTRANCE TO OUR COMPLEX.” Fall 2020 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 17

MULTI-TASKING PERFECTED SUPERHERO: CHARLESTON COUNTY PARKS MAINTENANCE TEAM

By Thomas McNerney, Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission

QUARANTINE IMPROVEMENTS– TACKLING NEW PROJECTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC When the Coronavirus pandemic began in the United States, the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) was preparing for the usual busy spring and summer months. Midway through March, it was clear that 2020 would be very different. Soon it was announced that all parks would be closed to the public and many employees would be working remotely for the foreseeable future. However, while some staff were privileged to work from home computers, CCPRC’s maintenance team continued to work diligently on site to keep our parks and facilities clean, safe and ready to open when the day came.

Due to the parks’ absence of visitors, the maintenance staff was able to accomplish typical tasks while getting started on some projects that were not yet scheduled. This included deep cleanings of restrooms and other facilities, pressure washings of almost every object on site and new paint jobs for anything with signs of chipping.

James Island County Park was especially able to get ahead of schedule. Because the site is so large and popular, there was an endless to-do list of projects. At Splash Zone, the in-park waterpark, irrigation systems were repaired, and extensive work was done to the grass and vegetation in and around the waterpark.

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

“OUR MAINTENANCE TEAM WORKED HARD TO HAVE THE PARKS PRISTINE AND READY FOR WHEN WE REOPENED.” Palmetto Islands County Park and Wannamaker County Park underwent similar significant maintenance project during this time. Trees were trimmed, trails were repaired, and lakes were cleaned. Risers and stair treads were replaced at Splash Island, the waterpark located within Palmetto Islands County Park, while Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark at Wannamaker County Park installed new misters to cool off guests waiting in line for The Washout attraction. At Palmetto Islands, new bench swings were placed throughout the park and turf in the dog park was repaired. Parking lots at Wannamaker were improved by adding granular materials across the lot. Dozens of additional projects throughout the 11,000-acre-park system were also completed during this time.

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The work done by the maintenance staff cannot be overstated.

“Our maintenance team worked hard to have the parks pristine and ready for when we reopened,” said CCPRC’s Director of Parks Greg Elliott. “Their job duties do not allow for at-home work so they reported to duty in person each day. They take great pride in their work and how the parks look, and they made the most of all the time without crowds to get an incredible amount of work done.”

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BEHIND-THE-SCENES MVPs SUPERHERO: CITY OF CHARLESTON’S SUMMER CAMP COMMITTEE

By: Bethany Doman, Marketing Coordinator for City of Charleston Recreation Department In trying to improve the City of Charleston’s 11 summer camps’ operations, communications, themes and staff trainings from year to year, there is already a great deal of planning involved.

Throw in the challenge of a pandemic, and you have a very daunting mission.

When reviewing last year’s summer camps, we found that there was no effective communication occurring between camps, parents or staff; forms were vastly different; and procedures were inconsistent. With efficiency at the forefront, our department developed an internal Summer Camp Committee in September of 2019, with one specialist or manager at each camp location as a representative (12 members total).

The original goals of the committee were to streamline camp operations and forms, save money by sharing themes and decorations, create activity guides for seasonal staff, and improve staff training. The committee began meeting monthly starting in September and once COVID-19 became an issue in the Charleston area, they met weekly on Zoom at the end of March to start preparing.

With new goals each week, committee members were tasked with different research topics, projects and duties to complete.

Those included virtual staff trainings, parent orientation videos and packets, updating liability and camp forms, creating a cleaning and disinfecting schedule per camp, putting together a socially-distant activity guide, creating new child safety guidelines per CDC/SCDHEC, devising maps per site, surveying parents, and finally, developing a summer camp proposal to present

to the mayor with our recommendations. Things changed weekly, and sometimes daily, but the committee was able to pivot and continue moving forward, no matter what details changed or what was asked of them.

By meeting weekly with committee members who are front and center at their various camps, they were able to explore all options, address all concerns, and create a plan to confidently prepare staff before starting on June 15. Without the development of this committee, the City of Charleston felt they could not have adequately prepared for the diverse challenges each camp presented such as location, spacing, staff, or activities.

“I believe our success came from creating a diverse committee with representatives from each facility in various camp roles to offer different perspectives of the camp experience. Also, we worked hard to create an environment in our meetings for all voices to be equal, despite the position you held, which allowed us to more thoroughly prepare,” said Crystal Reed, Programs Superintendent and leader of the summer camp committee.

Although summer camp numbers are cut in half and children are only allowed to be in cohorts of the same 6-8 kids, we have seen a lot of smiles and heard positive feedback from thankful parents about being able to provide the service of summer camp. And at this point, that’s all that matters.

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

FINDING SUPERMAN SUPERHERO: JAMES HEATON

By: Christy Martin, Greenville County Parks, Recreation & Tourism As programs are cancelled or re-scheduled, work environments become more challenging, and we all adapt to this new normal of wearing masks and social distancing, I have found it encouraging to be reminded of the reason why we do what we do. While our job duties may vary, it all comes down to serving people. We’re here to make our communities better places to live and recreate, one relationship and one experience at a time. For me, one such encouraging reminder stems from a relationship that began about fifteen years ago when I met a little boy who has held a spot in my heart ever since.

The interesting thing about Superman is that he doesn’t wear a mask. He doesn’t have to. His cape and the symbol of hope on his chest are so visually synonymous with who he is that once he covers or removes them he becomes unidentifiable as the same hero for truth and justice. James Heaton is Superman. His blue foam helmet with rainbow straps across the top served as his cape and symbol of heroism in the face of impossible odds. He’s a survivor; he’s one of a kind; he’s gifted; who else would you compare him to?

When I met James, he was thin and wiry, very shaky on his legs and had very few words. He would come bursting in at the age of 3 or 4 to pick up his sister from summer camp, and I was thankful more than once for his little blue helmet that protected his head in the inevitable event of a fall or a stumble. The braces he wore on his feet and legs were not enough to keep him sturdy on their own. At a time when most children his age had already been steadily building developmental blocks one on top of the other, James was starting from scratch. High risk brain surgery and treatment as very small child can have that effect. For several years, through leading childcare programming with Greenville County Rec, I had the great pleasure of being part of James’ daily life as he became Superman to everyone who met him.

I looked on with delight when he bowled people over with his charm and forthrightness. I experienced a strange combination

of humility and pride when he would pull himself together after a disappointment or struggle and manage to be strong and move forward. My heart would fill with joy when he would come running up to give me a hug. And then one day, after about five years of never seeing him without it, the helmet came off.

And that’s when I really realized he was Superman, because suddenly I was looking at Clark Kent. No less a survivor, no less one of a kind, no less gifted, but now in disguise. He had outgrown his leg braces, become steadier on his feet, and now without his helmet, those he encountered could be forgiven for assuming he was a young fellow just like any other. There was no longer the same visual point of reference for everyone around him to identify who he really was. His short life history had been filled with nothing less than the miraculous, but now he blended in and no longer looked the part. James is now a young man who recently graduated from high school, but I will never forget him or the lesson he taught me. Because of him, I am reminded to take the time to look for super heroes all around me.

Do you see all the Clark Kents that intersect your life? Do you recognize who they really are?

Each person in our lives has a story, is unique, and may or may not have the visual markers that point clearly to his or her own brand of heroism. I started really looking, and guess what? I found Superman in my friends, my coworkers, my kids, and my family. During the current times, it seems more important than ever to remember that people are so very much more than the categories we are all guilty of boxing them into. Let’s open those boxes and start looking for truth, strength, justice, giftedness and whatever other humbling surprises we may discover along the way. Finding Superman has made me a more positive and joyful person who is capable of building stronger and deeper relationships, and I would be willing to bet it will do the same for you. Hey thanks, James.

FINDING SUPERMAN HAS MADE ME A MORE POSITIVE AND JOYFUL PERSON WHO IS CAPABLE OF BUILDING STRONGER AND DEEPER RELATIONSHIPS, AND I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET IT WILL DO THE SAME FOR YOU. Fall 2020 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 21

Pets

in Our Parks & Programs

Furry friends bring joy to the lives of millions of people. Dog parks and agility courses provide opportunities for both pets and their owners to socialize and exercse. Therapeutic horseback riding and casual trail riding offers a chance to get out in nature and bond with the gentle equine giants.

In the pages that follow, we highlight South Carolina parks and recreation programs that connect animals with residents, and provide ideas for how to create a dog agility course that helps humans and pups stay healthy and fit.

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

snapshots of South carlina Dog Parks

CONESTEE PARK DOG PARK, GREENVILLE Greenville’s newest dog park, with over 45,000 square feet of space with two vast areas for dogs big and small, has water, shade, naturalized play and great long runs.

MARY WArNER DOG PARK, ANNE SPRINGS CLOSE GREENWAY Located on the Anne Springs Close Greenway, the Mary Warner Mack Dog Park features over 12 acres of enclosed natural space for dogs of all sizes to play and socialize. Situated among a mature hardwood forest and young stand of longleaf pines, the park provides a unique setting for dog lovers to enjoy time with their pets and is dedicated in loving tribute to the life of Mary Warner Mack.

The park includes: a mile-long, off-leash trail leading to lakefront access, a dog washing station, hydration stations, dog waste collection stations and benches.

SPENCER PARK DOG PARK, ROCK HILL Spencer Park is home to Rock Hill’s first off-leash dog park. The park offers playing areas for dogs of all sizes. Dog accommodations include two areas - an area for dogs 30 lbs or less and an area for all sizes. There are water fountains in both areas to keep our K-9 friends hydrated and waste stations to keep the park clean for others to enjoy.

Fall 2020 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 23

YOU REALLY CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER

ANNE SPRINGS CLOSE GREENWAY OFFERS EQUINE PROGRAMS FOR EVERYONE By: Anne Springs Close Greenway On a Wednesday morning at the stables of the Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, riders are saddled up to horses on special ramps that make it easier to mount.

The High Five Club of the Adult Enrichment Center at Rock Hill is here for its weekly ride with the Exceptional Equestrians program.

The Greenway Stables is a family-friendly working horse farm, owned and operated by the Anne Springs Close Greenway.

Situated on over 2,100 acres featuring 12 miles of equestrian trails, the Greenway Stables is a true area treasure. From September - May, choose from guided trail rides, private and group riding lessons, lead line horse rides and more.

The Exceptional Equestrians program at the Greenway serves area children and adults with special needs, offering them the opportunity to ride horses through the

trails and practice techniques in the riding ring. The program was created in 1982 by Anne Springs Close, Greenway founder and namesake, who fostered a partnership with Rock Hill Parks, Recreation & Tourism (PRT) to offer therapeutic riding for local children and adults with disabilities. The program now includes participants from the Fort Mill School District and Rock Hill PRT. Participants attend every week during the season, building up confidence and making friends along the way.

The Greenway stable offers many other programs for novice and expert riders.

GREENWAY DISCOVERY SCHOOL In response to the unique schedule of the 2020-2021 school year, the Anne Springs Close Greenway has created the Greenway

Discovery School to help meet the needs of families in the Fort Mill School District and beyond. Located at the Greenway’s Adventure Center, this alternate day program will offer middle school students (Grades 6 – 8) utilizing the in-school A/B schedule the opportunity to spend their non-school day in a structured, fun environment.

Staffed by Greenway camp and childcare employees, the Greenway Discovery School will provide children with several different academic and recreational opportunities each day. Through both technology and the staff direction, students will be kept on track academically and participate in numerous elective programs in what is sure to be a full and productive day. With a COVID plan in place that follows necessary CDC guidelines including additional sanitation

All images courtesy of Anne Springs Close Greenway

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

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY’S BRAIN&LIFE MAGAZINE SAYS THERAPEUTIC HORSE RIDING OFFERS CORE SKILLS, STRENGTHENS MUSCLES AND BOOSTS MOODS. The Exceptional Equestrians program serves children and adults with special needs, offering them the opportunity to ride horses through the trails and practice techniques in the riding ring. measures, health screenings and a priority to be outside, the Greenway will provide a space where parents can feel comfortable that their children are being kept as safe as possible.

GROUP RIDING LESSONS Group Lessons teach riders about horse care and horsemanship, including how to groom, bridle, saddle and basic riding techniques in a four-week lesson program.

They are offered as a four-week package throughout the Spring & Fall.

ADOPT-A-HORSE The Anne Springs Close Greenway Adopta-Horse program is designed to allow equine lovers a chance to adopt a horse for three hours one day each week during the period of September through May. Riders must meet several criteria for the adoption program and demonstrate their riding abilities prior to being allowed entrance into the program. Participants must be a Greenway member.

EQUESTRIAN SUMMER CAMPS Greenway Equestrian Day Camps Weeklong equestrian day camps on the

Greenway are offered during the month of June and offer a variety of riding disciplines for riders of various skill levels.

Campers will work on riding skills, trail work and equestrian arts and crafts projects.

Campers will also perform their newly acquired skills for family and friends on Fridays.

Springmaid Mountain Horse Camps Weeklong residence camps are held at Springmaid Mountain in Spruce Pine, NC, in July. Campers are immersed in a week of activities dedicated to developing better riding techniques and improving their overall understanding of horsemanship.

A week of horse camp at Springmaid Mountain is a week of riding and fun.

GUIDED TRAIL RIDES Guided trail rides are led by a member of the equestrian staff and are available on Saturdays, September to May. Riders must be at least 8 years of age and must wear closed-toe shoes. All riders also must wear helmets and the Anne Springs Close Greenway provides helmets.

For more information about the Greenway’s equine programs, visit www.ascgreenway. org/play/horseback-riding

Fall 2020 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 25

Helping Fido & Fifi Stay Fit AGILITY COURSES BENEFIT CANINES AND THE HUMANS THEY’VE RESCUED

By Todd Pernsteiner, Pernsteiner Creative Group Pet ownership is on the rise in 2020 since people are spending more time at home.

Empty animal shelters due to pet adoption is one of the few bright spots of the challenges Americans are currently facing.

In April, Wired magazine ran an article about pet adoptions. They found that all over the country, from New York to Wisconsin and North Carolina to Colorado and New Mexico, animal shelters are reporting massive upswings in

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the numbers of animals they’ve been able to adopt out or place in foster homes.

Wired quoted Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, who said the rates of fostering, in particular, have increased by 90 percent in some cities. “Folks who don’t have animals for one reasons or another, because of their work schedule or their travel schedule, that’s all changed right now,” Block said.

John Sarver, director of design at Gyms at Dogs, says people and companies have become involved in promoting the health and livelihood of dogs. “Americans are recognizing how important pets are to us,” he said. “From the introduction of no-kill shelters years ago to more recently humanrated dog food and improved food options for pets in general, people realize we must make dogs more a part of our community as a positive impact.”

It’s comes as no surprise that pets offer people a great distraction from the challenges of day-to-day life. Spending time outdoors and at a dog park is a fun, healthy experience for both the furry friends and their human counterparts. For many, it’s a joy to watch how excited their best friend can be in expending their youthful energy – even when they’re in their upper senior years.

With many human fitness centers closed or on limited schedules due to the pandemic, residents are taking their dogs to dog agility courses to enjoy the health benefits as well.

Agility courses in parks can challenge both the dog and his or her owner.

“The average dog is a better athlete than the most athletic humans on the planet. A dog’s ability to use oxygen is more efficient than most animals in the animal kingdom.

This is why it is important that they are

ACCORDING TO A 201920 SURVEY

BY THE THE AMERICAN PET PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION, MORE THAN 84.9 MILLION U.S. HOUSEHOLDS HAVE A PET

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

Image courtesy of Gyms for Dogs®

All photos courtesy of Gyms for Dogs®

provided with off-leash vigorous and strenuous exercise,” said Sarver. “Their athletic ability makes them an excellent personal exercise partner.”

Dog parks and agility courses encourage a healthy, active lifestyle.

There are multiple benefits of vigorous outdoor play including exercise, physical and mental stimulation while interacting and connecting with a pet.

When designing a dog park or agility course, Sarver says careful health and wellness elements must be put in place to create a space that will help develop a healthy dog and healthy dog owner: • Agility

training options exercise spaces • Climbing challenges • Cognitive learning modules • Social play opportunities • Areas for bonding and disciplined fun

“When sourcing products for your park, it is important to make sure you have a balanced variety of equipment for dogs of all sizes and age groups. Older dogs love the experience of going to the park but may not be able to use the more vigorous products, so make sure you have some products for all dogs. It is also important to provide adequate shade and drinking water options”, said Sarver As we move into the close of 2020, there are many things still out of the our control, but one thing is guaranteed – pets will continue to bring joy to the lives of millions of people. Creating a place that provides both the physical and mental stimulation for them (and their human companions) has never been more important.

• Vigorous

We provide recreation solutions that are tailor made for your athletic community.

“Dog parks should be designed to be fun, safe and efficient – a plan can be done to incorporate elements into any open space.

There are scientific methods to create spaces that get maximum exercise results for dogs at a healthy pace,” explained Sarver.

When developing a course, it’s important to research and source equipment that will not only improve a dog’s quality of life, but also feels natural and is safe. “When designing a park, I try to use natural and sustainable products as much as possible. Trees offer the best shade resource. I also believe in using natural and sustainable products as much as possible, such as the use of natural organic mulch as a ground surface,” said Sarver.

Many dog park site furnishings are being designed to replicate natural elements. Realistic looking logs, boulders, stumps and boards made out of sustainable materials can all benefit the environment.

Agility equipment is growing in popularity for new dog parks and can be designed to fit any area depending on the size of the park. Popular products are scalable and adjustable, including jumps, beam, hurdles, ramps and waiting tables. Speed challenges are also widely used for their adjustability, items such as hoops, weave poles, tunnels, barrels and agility walking beams.

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Overcoming Communication Barriers During COVID-19 By: Mary Rosbach, Tourism Supervisor, City of Aiken PRT For those with hearing impairments, communication can be difficult. During a pandemic, where individuals are wearing face coverings, communication becomes nearly impossible for lip readers, and few people know sign language. Medical appointments, going through the drive-thru of a restaurant, and daily work interactions can become overwhelming. Sheri Clemons, Tourism Coordinator with the City of Aiken PRT Department, has experienced these challenges.

After another staff member shared a reminder regarding communicating with the hearing impaired during COVID-19, it opened our eyes to what Sheri was experiencing. We knew we needed to do something in order to make Sheri feel more at ease and still be able to communicate with us. Upon inquiring, we found a local provider who could produce clear masks and get them to us as quickly as possible. To top it off, they were free! It was quite moving to see that someone in our community

understood the struggles of the hearing impaired during this pandemic. We received the masks within the next week and immediately began using them. Sheri can now read our lips and has no trouble communicating with us. She even carries with her a few extras in case she needs to meet with someone outside of our office she can provide them with one.

It’s easy for those of us without a hearing impairment to forget or not realize what others may be going through. We need to be mindful of our body language and be patient by not raising our voices or sighing loudly in frustration. If someone with a hearing impairment asks you to remove your mask in order to better communicate, you can still safely do so by social distancing yourself. Sheri says it’s been life changing these past few months. “With my hearing loss, I rely on visual cues to understand what people are saying. When the mask ordinance mandate was put in place, I no longer had those visual cues to carry on a conversation. Lips were covered. Those visual cues were gone! My world felt extremely silent, and everything turned upside down over night. I have literally been lip reading since birth, and I knew I was about to face big challenges in today’s world and on the job. Thanks for the help of my supervisor, she was able to reverse my world back to the way it was. The use of clear masks eases communication difficulties in meetings and when doing business with my colleagues.”

It’s easy for those of us without a hearing impairment to forget or not realize what others may be going through. We need to be mindful of our body language and be patient by not raising our voices or sighing loudly in frustration.

Fall 2020 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 29

Considerations When Sourcing Outdoor Signage Durability and ease of maintenance play critical role in protecting your investment

By Stephnie Coufal, iZone Imaging Choosing quality, durable outdoor signage that is easy to order and maintain can be a challenge. You have to research your options, compare costs, understand the materials, guarantee the printing method can maintain the integrity of your design…the list goes on.

Before you purchase your next outdoor signs, consider these five tips to ensure you don’t face the same old headaches after you get your new signage installed.

graphics and photos on aluminum can be restrictive and the signs can begin to fade over a couple of years.

Vinyl Vinyl signs and banners are an excellent short-term solution for event banners and light poles. Some vinyl is made specifically with the outdoors in mind, meaning they use ink that is resistant to UV rays. Vinyl is also an excellent solution for yard signs.

Wood Wood signs can be classy and create a rustic look. They can be engraved and painted for smaller directional signs. A downfall of wood signage is long-term maintenance expenses as wood needs to be treated or replaced often due to everyday wear-and-tear and damage from weather. Wood is also susceptible to insect infestation.

Tip #1: Make sure the signage material is weather-resistant.

Weather patterns can be brutal, so whether your signs will be used at a community park, along a trail system, or part of a nature center or themed environment, they should be able to endure inclement weather and high visitor traffic.

Signs can be made of a large variety of materials and substrates. Each one has it’s own strengths and weaknesses.

Aluminum Aluminum is a durable substrate commonly used for outdoor signs like parking and directional signage. Aluminum substrate can come unpainted, or painted on one or both sides. It most commonly comes painted white, but can be painted in a variety of colors. Printing of complex

Custom High Pressure Laminate (CHPL) CHPL is an excellent solution for outdoor signage. It is exceptionally versatile, impervious to moisture, and is fade, scratch, and graffiti-resistant. Graphic reproduction on CHPL signage is second to none. While it may cost a bit more to produce, the long-term benefits pay for itself many times over.

Tip #2: Weigh durability vs cost (cheaper isn’t always better).

Outdoor signs can get pricey, which is why it’s important you use a material that’s durable and won’t have to be replaced every couple of years due to fading, cracking, or harsh weather. Investing in a durable material saves you money in the long run.

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

Be sure to ask your signage manufacturer if your investment comes with a long-term, reliable warranty.

Tip #3: Make certain the material is easy to clean.

When people love your space, your signage will naturally get dirty due to the rigors of public interaction – not to mention the adverse effects of inclement weather, pollution, and critter waste. Make sure your signage can be easily cleaned with just soap and water. Also inquire about the worst-case scenario, graffiti (paint, permanent marker, decals, etc.). These should be able to be safely removed using organic solvents.

Tip #4: Maintain the integrity of your brand and message.

Outdoor signs should reflect your organization’s brand and message for multiple reasons. Whether you’re designing warning and regulatory signs, path and trail markers, or interpretive signage, you must provide your visitors with clear and consise safety and direction.

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Signs & Graphics Guaranteed to Last Additionally, signage connects visitors to your environment and should provide long-term value through its vibrant visual impact. Signage can be the first impression a visitor or customer receives when encountering your brand. First impressions matter!

When you purchase an outdoor sign, ensure the manufacturer can meet all of your artwork requirements. Ask your producer if they can match colors and cut signs into any shape.

Lastly, don’t forget about finishing options. Depending on where your sign is located, the finish can play a huge role in readability. Many sign companies offer a matte, satin or gloss finish. If the sign is touched by visitors, see if they have a finish that minimizes smudges and fingerprints.

Tip #5: Ensure your signage can be easily installed.

Your hard work and energy should be focused on designing valuable signage for your customers, not on figuring out how to install large, heavy, and awkward displays. When you purchase an outdoor sign, make sure the signage company offers affordable, easy-to-install mounting solutions that will showcase your beautiful and informative designs.

The key take-away for purchasing the perfect outdoor sign?

Durability. Durability. Durability.

I can’t stress enough how important durability is for this long-term investment.

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How do I begin?

Find a vendor committed to helping you inspire, guide, and educate your visitors by creating high-quality signage that will keep your visitors coming back. Find someone with a proven track record and who can turn around products quickly. Lastly, be sure to ask about a warranty so you don’t have to keep replacing your outdoor signs.

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Fall 2020 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 31

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