South Carolina Recreation & Parks Magazine Summer 2014

SOUTH CAROLINA

SUMMER 2014

RECREATION & PARKS ASSOCIATION

Planting the Seed

for a Long Lasting Impact

City of Florence and the Pee Dee Vipers

Partnerships as Win-Win

Richland County’s Wellness Programs

V I D E O

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

SOUTH CAROLINA

TABLE OF CONTENTS Association Report............................................................................. 5 Planting the Seed for a Long Lasting Impact.................................. 6

RECREATION & PARKS ASSOCIATION

“First in Service”...More than just a city slogan to many on the Grand Strand....................................................................................... 8

2014 Board of Directors

Recreation Department and Community Partners Hold Joint Mural Dedication................................................................................ 9 Partnerships as Win-Win.................................................................. 10

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

City of Florence and the Pee Dee Vipers........................................12

President Don Shuman Greenville County

Past President Mark Sexton City of Rock Hill

President Elect Jeff Metz City of Aiken

Central VP Ashley Smith Irmo-Chapin

Vice President Eric Stewart Charleston County

Eastern VP Callie Wise City of North Myrtle Beach

Rock Hill Working Toward a Common Goal................................... 18

Secretary Jessica Campbell City of Aiken

Southern VP Jason Woodrum Charleston County

ADVERTISER INDEX

Treasurer Randy Gibson Lexington County

Western VP Jamie Cathey City of Clemson

Richland County’s Wellness Programs............................................13 Boy Scouts and Orangeburg-based Company Provide Significant Contribution to State Parks...............................................................14 Spartanburg County Expands Partnership to Expand Facilities and Services........................................................................................16

Churchich Recreation & Design........................................................ 5 General Recreation............................................................................. 4 Most Dependable Fountains............................... Inside Front Cover Playgrounds of the Carolina’s...........................................Back Cover

BRANCHES

The Parking Place................................................................................ 3

CBM Branch Scott Wilhide Irmo-Chapin

RAP Branch Bonnie Fitz Horry County

ELM Branch Joe Eason Kershaw County

SCAP Branch Matt Watts City of Florence

EMB Joey Freeman Greenville County

Student Branch Pam Davis City of Greenville

PRM Branch Bill Berry City of Rock Hill

Wellness Branch

Wood Partners, Inc............................................................................. 9 Thank you to our advertisers for your help in supporting SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks magazine. We kindly ask members to please support our advertisers. Interested in advertising? Contact Todd Pernsteiner at 877-694-1999 or info@pernsteiner.com.

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

Membership Services Coordinator: Melissa Williams melissa@scrpa.org

SCRPA MARKETING COMMITTEE Laurie Helms City of Rock Hill

Elizabeth Harm City of Aiken

Bonnie Fitz Horry County

Chris Pounder Charleston County PRC

Dena Long Irmo Chapin

Paul Ellis Greenville County PRT

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Summer 2014 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 3

THE ASSOCIATION REPORT

by Jim Headley & Don Shuman

SCRPA, like your agency, must rely on partnerships to succeed. Partnerships have become a way of life for most organizations, public and private.

In fact, we are almost expected to maintain partnerships. As we all know, clearly defined expectations are important to successful partnerships.

However, the unintended results can be just as beneficial as the stated reasons for partnering.

Partnerships come in all shapes and sizes -- formal and informal, written and verbal. They also come together for many different reasons.

Some are sought out, and others are thrust upon us. SCRPA recently experienced the latter. As you may know, we were called upon by the South Carolina General Assembly to provide a response to having summer day camps and afterschool programs regulated by DSS. Immediately, groups who are regulated by separate governing bodies were forced into a partnership. Otherwise, the potential losers were the very children that the general assembly wanted to protect, as most of our programs would have come to a halt. Thus, a new partnership emerged between the Alliance for Boys and Girls Clubs of South Carolina, the SC Alliance for YMCA’s, the SC Afterschool Care Alliance, and SCRPA.

While each organization knew each other, we had not collaborated prior to this opportunity - at least not in recent memory. But we had a common goal of providing safe and secure programs for the youth that we serve. That part of the partnership was defined for us.

We just had to come together with a solution to the perceived problem of not being regulated. While we have not yet conquered the ultimate reason for partnering, we have achieved an unintended benefit. Through the process, our organizations have gained another level of respect for each other and the organizations represented. We will continue to work diligently for the youth of our state, while ensuring safe and secure programs are offered.

Innovative solutions, materials, and project

know-how to help you create outdoor experiences that can be enjoyed by everyone.

SCRPA has entered into thousands of partnerships over the years. Some have been successful and others, not so much. We will continue to develop these partnerships in an effort to ensure that your organizations always have the opportunity to be successful.

Successful partnerships are nothing new. However, reaping unintended benefits can be an extra bonus in the end. All the best to each of you, and we hope that your summer programs are successful!

Jim & Don www.churchichrecreation.com

Summer 2014 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 5 CRD403A1_SCRPA_VRT_01.indd 1

3/16/2014 6:06:30 P

THE for a Long Lasting Impact

By Sarah Reynolds, Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC)

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Students will have the opportunity to observe “ these trees as they grow, and may someday share them with their children or grandchildren.”

– Jim Westerhold, HGTC professor

Sometimes the best partnerships are formed when we concentrate not just on what we can get from working together, but also on how those partnerships can benefit the community. Take, for example, fostering a love for the environment among young people.

Two such projects took place this past spring at Charleston County Parks.

Each involved youth getting in the dirt to plant native plants at our parks, while learning important environmental lessons.

First, CCPRC hosted a land management educational program at their undeveloped parkland in McClellanville. Wildlife and forestry students from Horry Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) worked with students from Cape Romain Environmental Education Charter School (CREECS) to plant tree seedlings at the 813-acre future park. CCPRC staff and HGTC students and faculty worked together to explain the value of native plant communities while planting seedlings of longleaf pine, live oak, crabapple, dogwood, and other beneficial species.

The students learned that the trees will offer more food options for wildlife in years to come, and that by planting indigenous longleaf pine, they’re helping to reestablish one of the Southeast’s most characteristic species.

“Students will have the opportunity to observe these trees as they grow, and may someday share them with their children or grandchildren,” said HGTC professor Jim Westerhold. “This is also a real-life land management experience for HGTC students, and something they’ll be able to apply in their professional career.”

“Planting trees is such an important learning experience for our students,” said CREECS teacher Hayley Leland. “The hands-on approach helps them better understand what it takes to manage a forest. Plus, this field experience was a great real-life connection to our curriculum.”

In a second venture, CCPRC brought together residents of Palmetto Summerville Behavioral Health facility and representatives from Clemson Extension’s Carolina Clear to create a rain garden at Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark in North Charleston. It was a therapeutic learning experience for a group that might not otherwise have had such an opportunity, and will also serve as an educational tool for park guests.

Carolina Clear staff worked with young residents of the facility to fill the garden with native plant species. Located in an area where rain water naturally collects, the residents learned that their garden will help absorb stormwater runoff and filter pollutants before they enter the groundwater. An informational sign at the garden will help to educate park guests about the project “We are grateful that the young people of Palmetto Summerville were able to share something so important with their community through their hard work,” says CCPRC’s Accessible Recreation Program Aide Marina Forbus.

“It’s amazing to see how community partnerships, recreation, and nature can inspire such personal growth and joy in all people.”

What else was fostered during these projects? Respect, love, and understanding for the environment in impressionable young people.

Sometimes, partnerships are not about how many seeds you can plant… but instead, the giant oaks that will one day have grown as a result of your combined efforts.

Summer 2014 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 7

“First In Service”… More than just a city slogan to many on the Grand Strand

Dustin Jordan, Recreation Supervisor City of Myrtle Beach Cultural & Leisure Services

a phone room that was used as a way for family members to communicate with military personnel who were deployed overseas.

In 2004, the City of Myrtle Beach re-opened the building after extensive renovations, as the Base Recreation Center. The Base Recreation Center is one of the few original Air Force Base buildings remaining and houses rental space as well as the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base Museum.

Myrtle Beach is most notably known for its vast array of sun and sand, which we have plenty of, but unknown to many is the rich military history of the Grand Strand. While the only thing that remains of a military presence in Myrtle Beach are monuments and museums, there are still groups doing their part to ensure that the veterans around the grand strand are appreciated.

The Myrtle Beach Municipal Airport first opened in 1939 as a civil airport. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the facility was taken over and renamed Myrtle Beach General Bombing and Gunnery Range by the United States Army Air Corps to be used as a training facility during WWII. After the conclusion of WWII, possession of the newly named Myrtle Beach Air Force Base went back and forth for use as a civilian airport and an active Air Force Base. An agreement was reached prior to the outbreak of the Cold War to operate the facility as an active base while also allowing civilian planes to use the airport. The Myrtle Beach Air Force Base remained open until 1993 when reductions in spending led the military to reduce the size of the armed forces. During its years of active duty, Myrtle Beach Air Force Base personnel saw action in World War II, the Vietnam War, and in the Middle East during Operation Desert Storm.

After the closure of the facility by the Air Force in 1993, the City of Myrtle Beach received portions of the property from the United States Department of the Interior to be used as recreational space. One of the buildings obtained by the city was the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Building. During the days of active duty, this building was home to a pool, pizzeria, the base library, and

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The Base Recreation Center is also home to the Grand Strand Quilters Guild, which has been meeting in the area for nearly 30 years. The group first met in 1986 in the home of one of the quilters. The gathering served as a place for quilters to fellowship with one another, sharing thoughts and ideas. The group soon noticed an influx of women and moved their monthly meetings to the Pepper Geddings Recreation Center. Today, between 50100 members of the Grand Strand Quilters meet each week at the Base Recreation Center. The group provides quilts to various charitable organizations, including the Quilts of Valor Foundation.

The mission of the QOVF is to cover the service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing quilts of valor. Since its start in 2003, the QOVF has awarded almost 100,000 quilts to deserving veterans. The Grand Strand Quilters have awarded over 200 quilts to veterans in Myrtle Beach and the surrounding areas. The ladies put as much love and care in presenting the quilts as they do in making the quilts. Each veteran is wrapped in the quilt by the very person who made it, symbolizing the comforting sentiment inspired by their mission.

Recreation Department and Community Partners

Hold Joint Mural Dedication at Community Center

By Martine Wolfe-Miller, Communications Officer

“We really appreciate what they have done for the center.

They did a fantastic job, and I’ve told them that we’ve got several more buildings throughout the Town where they can display their talents!” said Mount Pleasant Recreation Director Ken Ayoub.

For more information about the Mount Pleasant Recreation Department and its community partners, visit us online at www.tompsc.com.

MOUNT PLEASANT, SC (May 7, 2014) – The Mount Pleasant Recreation Department, along with business partners, the Mount Pleasant Culture, Arts & Pride Commission and the Mount Pleasant Artists Guild held a joint maritime mural dedication at the Miriam Brown Community Center on April 23 as part of the 2014 Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival’s Fleet Week activities.

The Mount Pleasant Artist Guild meets each week at the Mariam Brown Community Center to paint, sketch, socialize and discuss upcoming activities. Local artists involved with the group wanted to find a way to give back to their community. Marie-Louise Moreto, member of the Mount Pleasant Culture, Arts & Pride Commission, approached the Artist Guild in December about painting a mural on a bare wall at the community center that would enrich the room and capture the cultural spirit of Mount Pleasant. The Center is a Recreation Department facility heavily used by the community which provides numerous after-school activities for local children. “We enjoy meeting at the Mariam Brown Center and wanted to use our collective talents to beautify this facility that is used by so many of our residents” said Artist Guild Vice President, Ms. Gardner. With the go ahead from the Recreation Department, the Artist Guild went to work on the project. In partnership with the Culture, Arts and Pride Commission and paint and supplies donated from local business, Royall Ace Hardware and Sherwin Williams, the local artists donated their time and expertise to paint a beautiful mural depicting the Mount Pleasant waterfront in the Miriam Brown Community Center.

Summer 2014 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 9

S A P I H S R E N PART

N I W N I W P, Cathey, CPR PhD, Jamie L. n, D so Ph er , er nd A ck . resa W. Tu

By Denise M ell, PhD, & Te w Po .

M n yn Gw

“Partnership” is heard often in community recreation. How do partnerships form? What does it look like when multiple sides benefit? Can partnerships happen in small communities? Let’s explore the Spring Break “Camp Clemson” partnership between the City of Clemson Parks and Recreation Department (CCPR) and Clemson University’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (PRTM).

FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS For years, PRTM students volunteered for local community events such as the Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween Festival and Christmas Parade. Students got to see staple community events at their completion and CCPR got the volume of volunteers to make them happen.

While this relationship was positive and productive on some levels, students still had no real understanding of how the events were developed, and the academic content was not as visible.

TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL Jamie Cathey, CCPR Program Director, had the challenge of building on old programs and the freedom to create new ones. Critical to fostering this partnership was having multiple open and honest conversations about what both parties wanted and needed from this relationship.

Jamie wanted to develop new programs that the community needed. PRTM had just implemented the EDGE (Engaging in Diverse Guided Experiences) integrated core curriculum that strived to provide students with hands on experiences to bring the profession to life. The way to fill this need for both groups turned out to be as simple as putting a new twist on an existing program.

With the University and public school system on different spring break schedules, there was “dire” need for youth programming. CCPR and PRTM EDGE faculty created an extension of Camp Clemson Summer Day Camp by creating the Camp Clemson Spring Break.

The community receives a much-needed program for kids during Spring Break, while PRTM students give back to the community as well as get themselves kneedeep in programming.

THE “WIN-WIN” For Camp Clemson Spring Break, PRTM students are responsible for planning and implementing the week of camp under Jamie’s tutelage. Since its inception in the Spring of 2011, the number of kids participating in the Camp Clemson Spring Break Camp has doubled in the last three years, leaving no doubt the need for this program.

As the parent of two campers shared, “Without spring break camp, my family would face quite a hardship in trying to juggle our schedules for the week. The

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boys have attended the camp for several years and love the creative activities the staff provide in a safe and fun atmosphere.” Furthermore, students see the value of this partnership as shared in this student’s reflection of the day camp experience, “The opportunity for a student to physically see the impact that they create in a young person’s life is one that allows for a reflection on their own lives and future and cannot easily be found through another outlet.”

Jamie and PRTM would in no way claim the camp is perfect, but the benefits to the community, parents, students and the profession far outweigh the obstacles.

According to Jamie, “Our partnership with PRTM has not only enhanced our program offerings for the community, it has also offered valuable hands on learning experience for students or, more importantly, our future co-workers.”

GET STARTED ➡➡Inventory your community for groups of people (technical college, boarding schools, retirement communities, universities, etc.) ➡➡Examine your programs (new ideas, programs in a rut, home runs, etc.) and look for ways to add new life. ➡➡Start the conversation (share ideas, be open to ideas, and start planning.) ➡➡Build in feedback loops (share successes, challenges, and mistakes.) ➡➡Watch the ideas grow!

“Our partnership with PRTM has not only enhanced our program offerings for the community, it has also offered valuable hands on learning experience for students or, more importantly, our future co-workers.”

Jamie Cathey, CCPR Program Director

Summer 2014 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 11

S P I H S R E N PART

THE CITY OF

FLORENCE AND THE

PEE DEE VIPERS

By Darlene Buchanan

Where would we be without our community partners? We rely heavily on community networking to accomplish everyday tasks to include everything from running a softball league to providing a financial planning class. Such is the case with the recent relationship forged between the City of Florence Recreation Department and the Pee Dee Vipers, the local professional basketball team that began in Florence this year.

In only a short period of time, the Vipers, a member of the Premier Basketball League, have become a valuable asset to the Florence Community. In addition to playing excellent basketball, members of the Vipers engage in extensive community outreach. These initiatives have taken many forms

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and often result in one on one experiences for the youth of Florence.

Upon their arrival, they provided the afterschool program with tickets to attend a game. The program participants formed an instant bond with players as they cheered the individual who had played games with them the afternoon before yet had somehow transformed themselves into elite basketball players the following evening. The Vipers also made personal visits on numerous occasions to simply mingle with the youth from the community center programs and to assist teen program participants with their homework studies. They also assisted in the selection of players on the community competitive league basketball teams and performed as referees in the intramural games held at the Barnes Street Activity Center. And this summer, they are hosting their first basketball camp for the youth of Florence.

The young men on the Vipers not only performed basketball related functions in the community, but perhaps more importantly, they mentored young teens by stressing the importance of education at both the high school and college levels. They have truly been positive role models for the youth of Florence. While they were ultimately successful in their inaugural season, posting an 11-6 season record, they were just as successful off the court. And while the season has since ended, their presence is still felt in Florence as many of the players have remained here in the off season and have continued their community involvement.

We salute the players and the entire Vipers organization. If year one is any indication, they certainly have the makings of a solid future in Florence. Here’s to a wonderful partnership now and the years to come. Go Vipers!

PARTNERSHIPS STIMULATE

RICHLAND COUNTY’S WELLNESS PROGRAMS Julian Shabazz, Recreation Program Manager Richland County Recreation Commission

NPRA has declared that parks and recreation agencies are leaders in improving the health and wellness of citizens throughout the nation. In accordance with NRPA’s position, the Richland County Recreation Commission (RCRC) places a strong emphasis on providing quality health and wellness programming for citizens. All fifteen of our recreation centers choose a different wellness initiative designed to bring awareness, education and services to a health concern or issue that affects their particular community. Every month at least one of our sites hosts a wellness observance or health initiative.

Recent programming has included awareness events that focused on issues such as glaucoma, pancreatic cancer, diabetes, alcohol & drug abuse prevention, and effective treatment and management of allergies and asthma.

In an effort to increase the level of services offered, RCRC actively partners with health and wellness organizations and other professionals with programming.

Planned Parenthood conducted a comprehensive workshop at the Denny Terrace Gymnasium educating teens about healthy sex practices for our teen sexual health event. Hopkins Park joined a nationwide observance by presenting National HIV/AIDS Testing Day with free testing and counseling services offered by the South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council.

National Immunization Awareness at Meadowlake Park was boosted by a partnership with SC Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Multiple events recognizing breast cancer awareness were coordinated efforts by RCRC and the Richland County Recreation Foundation that provided support to the Palmetto Health Foundation for research. Walgreens and Health Management Associates were major partners in presenting free influenza vaccinations at Trenholm Park.

Aside from the screenings, testing and services, RCRC hosts mental health awareness programs such as

supporting and participating in the annual NAMI Walk sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Killian Park also hosts a very popular wellness event called “Every Body Deserves a Massage Day”. At this event, the agency partners with licensed massage therapists to present a day of stress relief and pampering, which is free and open to all citizens.

RCRC parks and recreation centers continue to work with local organizations and experts to make our monthly health and wellness events informative, educational and beneficial for residents of Richland County.

Summer 2014 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 13

S P I H S R E N PART

BOY SCOUTS AND AN ORANGEBURGBASED COMPANY

PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT

CONTRIBUTION TO STATE PARKS

By Dawn Dawson House

Hundreds of new picnic tables were placed in South Carolina state parks last year under an ambitious partnership called “600 in 60,” which brought together a private company, a state agency and a civic organization. Using lumber donated by Orangeburg-based Cox Industries, Inc., and labor from scout organizations across the state, the project provided 600 new picnic tables to state parks in March and April 2013.

cut lumber, and leaving the finished products at picnic grounds and other venues at state parks. Thirty two state parks in South Carolina received tables.

“This is how public-private partnerships are supposed to work,” said Governor Nikki Haley. “We have a corporate partner committed to community service, a state agency with specific needs and a volunteer organization ready to help. It is an ideal collaboration that works for everyone involved.”

The idea came from Michael Johnson, President and CEO of Cox Industries, an Eagle Scout himself who has a deep appreciation for state parks and scouting programs.

While the effort was valued at more than $100,000, it actually launched a significant relationship between Cox Industries and state parks that continues to reap benefits.

In 2013, more than 2,000 cub scouts and boy scouts spent weekends nailing together pre-drilled and pre-

“These kids did some mighty heavy lifting,” said Duane Parrish, Director of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism. “Not only did they spend hours working on this project, they provided tangible gifts to state parks that are often taken for granted.”

“This project was originally simply a way to get the young people and adults, associated with youth programs like Scouting, to recognize all South Carolina has to offer,” he said. “Today, I wish more of our young people spoke of the State Parks with the same excitement as they do video games or theme parks.

We have these incredible assets right here in our very own communities.”

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His company provided all of the material needed for the tables and shipped them to distribution centers near state parks. The Park Service worked with scout councils to schedule “assembling dates,” and each scout who completed a table was given an official patch designed specifically for the project.

Today, Cox Industries continues to work with state parks and Scouts.

The company provided material and technical assistance in the renovation of historic cabins at Camp Buckhorn at Paris Mountain State Park, helping the team recapture the rustic Civilian Conservation Corps wood profile, and supports Eagle Scout projects in state parks.

“600 in 60” By the Numbers 2,043

600

Scouts assembled the tables

Picnic tables

60 32 DAYS

Built in

in March & April, 2013

of South Carolina’s 47 State Parks received tables

225 POUNDS

The weight of a single table used at campsites, picnic sites, shelters and other state park venues

2,100 Man-hours spent building the tables

10,000 3,200

Nuts and bolts used for highgrade durability

135,000 POUNDS The gross weight of lumber used in the entire project Screws used to fasten together the pre-cut and pre-drilled lumber

Donor 1 Generous

Cox Industries, Inc.

Summer 2014 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 15

S P I H S R E N PART

SPARTANBURG COUNTY EXPANDS PARTNERSHIP TO EXPAND FACILITIES AND SERVICES

By James Campbell

In 2011 the Spartanburg County Council abolished the semi-independent Spartanburg Parks Commission, created a County Parks Department and reduced the tax millage assigned to parks and recreation. Faced with financial challenges and a negative public image, the Parks Department staff curtailed administrative costs, reached out and listened to community stakeholders and focused attention on improving park conditions.

Department staffers also began seeking opportunities to form partnerships with municipalities, water districts, school districts, colleges, businesses and community organizations.

The result has been an expansion of parks and recreation facilities and services along with a shared sense of responsibility among our parks and recreation partners, all while keeping Parks Department operating and maintenance costs low. The partnerships formed to date include:

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1. Working with the City of Spartanburg to develop a Trails Master Plan, fund a private not-for-profit organization to implement it, produce a street party to celebrate a national youth softball tournament and cooperate in parks planning.

2. Joining with the Spartanburg County Foundation and many community partners to develop wellness strategies for the “Baby Boom� generation.

3. Partnering with hospitals and human service agencies to address childhood obesity, specifically by using a healthy foods curriculum in our youth development program.

4. Partnering with the Convention and Visitors Bureau, hoteliers and event venue managers in a Sports Alliance devoted to attracting and hosting sports tournaments.

5. Lending staff assistance to volunteer groups that provide therapeutic recreation services.

6. Providing seed money and planning assistance to municipalities that wish to develop community parks.

7. Organizing focus groups, made up of citizens and agencies, to plan park improvements. More than 20 park enhancement projects are currently underway.

8. Devoting space on park properties for fire and EMS substations, a move that reduces costs and improves public safety in parks.

9. Cooperating with the Greenville County Recreation Department to develop a new user-friendly and smart phonecapable website that includes online program registration and a directory of all public parks and recreation facilities in Spartanburg County. The new site will launch in July.

Promoting, planting and nurturing partnerships has become a way of life for the Spartanburg County Parks Department. It has resulted in regional and national awards as well as numerous compliments to the County Administration and County Council from citizens. By building partnerships - and not caring who gets the credit - we are accomplishing more for the citizens we serve.

Summer 2014 • SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks 17

S P I H S R E N PART

ROCK HILL WORKING TOWARD A

COMMON

GOAL

By Katie Conley, Laurie Helms & Jesse Holliman, Rock Hill Parks, Recreation & Tourism

A partnership usually involves close cooperation between two or more parties, all having specified and joint rights and responsibilities. The City of Rock Hill has developed and nurtured many successful partnerships over the years.

These partnerships are formed because the City and the partnered organizations are all working toward one common goalcreating a better community and future for the citizens of Rock Hill and its surrounding areas in York County.

The City of Rock Hill Parks, Recreation & Tourism (PRT) Department is involved in many different partnerships, all geared toward providing quality services, places and community in York County. Among these is a substantial partnership between PRT’s various divisions and Rock Hill Schools. For many years now, Rock Hill Schools and the PRT Department have partnered to make ball fields and playgrounds on school property available for the community to use during non-school hours. PRT provides maintenance of the fields and is able to use them as overflow sites for large sports tournaments.

In 2005, these organizations partnered to create the Rock Hill Tennis Center which provides a quality facility and programs for community use and for tournaments.

Courts are used by Sullivan Middle School P.E. classes, and the Tennis Center provides outreach programs to introduce tennis to children who may otherwise not be exposed to the sport.

Additionally, PRT offers field trips that support South Carolina curriculum standards and get children outdoors to experience nature. Classes come from Rock Hill schools as well as Fort Mill, York, Clover, and private schools. Students gain knowledge and experience from classes like Kayaking, Water Quality, Ecosystems, Habitat Hikes and “What’s Bugging You?” These outdoor programs are also a part of the Challenge Based Learning (CBL) initiative that Rock Hill Schools piloted last year. This program encourages students to use technology (iPads) to solve real-world problems. The City of Rock Hill was given the opportunity to suggest projects for the classes, and City employees mentored the classes as they researched and shared

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their findings. One significant result of this initiative included middle school students conducting biological surveys and creating field guides of animals along the Piedmont Medical Center Trail. These were provided to park visitors. The CBL initiative is important because it not only benefits the community at large, but it also educates the future workforce and helps to capture their creativity and energy, providing new approaches to old problems.

Overall, the partnership between the City of Rock Hill PRT Department and Rock Hill Schools has provided an opportunity for PRT to use 25 School District Properties at reduced or no cost to the City. In turn, the City has provided maintenance, labor and equipment to help uphold the quality of the Rock Hill School’s playgrounds and athletic facilities.

The valuable relationship between the City of Rock Hill and Rock Hill Schools is just one partnership among many that PRT fosters for the benefit of residents, visitors and the future of our community!

He’ll soon need new playground equipment. Stay top of mind.

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SOUTH CAROLINA

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City of Charlest on: Dedicate making recr d to eati available to on all

for Special

Events

Dillon Wellness center: providing opportunities to enjoy healthy and active lifest yles

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SOUTH CAROLINA RECREATION & PARKS ASSOCIATION

P.O. Box 1046 Lexington, SC 29071-1046