Look What Happened When
WE Voted YES!
Our Children, And Our Children’s Children, Thanked Us.
If you’ve walked or driven down North Purdy Street or traversed Haynsworth Street, you’ve noticed a new gymnasium has been added to the Sumter County Recreation & Parks Department complex.
The new 12,800-square-foot gym is the centerpiece of a three-phase plan to reshape recreation in Sumter for generations to come.
As part of the Penny for Progress, Dillon Park got a new exercise track and playground equipment in the spring of 2017. Families can now enjoy three new football fields, thanks to the Capital Penny Sales Tax.
We Helped Make Sumter A Safer Place to Live & Learn.
Central Carolina Technical College’s 400 Building saw several upgrades as Duke Energy also contributed to its improvements. A sprinkler and fire protection system was added to the entire building and LED lighting was installed in the majority of the building as well. Natural gas and exhaust were also added to this facility, which serves as the school's Industrial Engineering site.
The new 36,905-square-foot headquarters of the Sumter Police Department will allow for future growth of the department while also serving as a source of pride for the community it serves.
The new E-911 Communications Center provides the latest technology to meet mandated digital service, which allows county-wide coverage for our first responders.
We Made Transportation Easier.
To ease public travel and emergency vehicle accessibility while also improving maintenance service, 19.5 miles of dirt roads will be paved. This is an $8.9 million allocation. To date, 13.6 miles of formerly dirt roads have been paved, with 6.5 miles to go.
Wilson Hall Road and Wise Drive saw improvements to the existing right-of-way to relieve congestion and to improve traffic flow during peak hours.
This $2.3 million project expands the community sidewalk network, providing safe walking connections to neighborhoods, schools, parks, and commercial areas to include: North Columbia Drive, Crestwood Drive, North Guignard Drive, Highland Avenue, North Lafayette Drive, Lewis Road, Lynam Road, West Oakland Avenue and West Red Bay Road.
We Brought History Back To Life.
Work got underway at the Liberty Center in mid-October 2020 to bring a fresh look to the busy multi-faceted office space, and renovations were completed in the Spring of 2021. New ductwork was installed, along with new flooring and painting throughout the building. Bathroom ceilings were lowered to increase energy efficiency and new vanities were installed.
Situated about nine miles northeast of Sumter, Mayesville is known as the birthplace of Mary McLeod Bethune, a legendary educator and advisor to five U.S. presidents. An annual celebration and parade in her honor draws a large crowd, and a new Learning Center and Art Gallery also amplifies her legacy and helps tell her story.
Mayesville was allocated $875,000 to renovate the Bland Stables. Grants from the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism and $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development followed, and the former stables were transformed into a museum, café and medical clinic with affordable housing units as well.
An extensive renovation of the 1940s-era Lodge at Mill Creek Park was completed in the summer of 2019, and that’s just one of the reasons to visit this lesser-known park that embodies peace and tranquility. The Lodge, or clubhouse, has new heating and air, new roof insulation, flooring, new appliances, a new lighting system and renovated bathrooms.The fireplace has propane logs and the Lodge also has a ramp to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. There are also 20 new stables that are really nice and of course the park is right next to Manchester State Forest,. The stalls are available for rent with water on site as well.
We Helped Strays Find Their Forever Home.
The Animal Control Building received upgrades and repairs, including new exterior siding and new flooring in the office space.
A new facility managed by Saving Sumter's Strays was designed to find forever homes for stray animals in Sumter County.
The 6,000-square-foot building is located on Winkles Road and features 38 indoor and outdoor kennels, front office space and a grooming area.
Nina Stroebel and Lauren Cunningham founded Saving Sumter’s Strays, a 501(c)3 that seeks to find forever homes for abandoned or unwanted dogs.
A dedicated group of volunteers help them care for the dogs and veterinarians regularly visit to ensure adopted animals are healthy and ready for a new family.
We Connected With Nature.
A new nature trail winds through Sumter -- a 3.1-mile pedestrian greenway that's a focal point for walking, biking and communing with the great outdoors.
The Shot Pouch Greenway is a Penny for Progress project with $4 million dedicated to connect Dillon Park to Swan Lake-Iris Gardens with a paved walkway that runs alongside Shot Pouch Branch.
It’s important for all residents of Sumter County to have opportunities for recreation.
We Took Pride In Our Community.
A thorough renovation of the Sumter County Administration building was completed to better serve the public. The Administration building was built in the 1970s and originally served as a bank until Sumter County Government acquired it in the 1980s. It houses some of the busiest offices: Assessor, Auditor and Treasurer.
Renovations for the Sumter County Courthouse as part of the ‘Penny for Progress’ received approval in March 2018 from the Historic Preservation Design Review Committee, as the 117-year-old structure continues to serve citizens in several ways.
A new elevator and restrooms that are handicap-accessible were added, along with new windows and exterior façade improvements. The back of the building that faces North Harvin Street saw the addition of a column structure to accommodate new restrooms and the elevator, which are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Colors were updated and exterior damage was repaired. Custom designed and double-paned Pella windows that are energy efficient were installed, replacing the single pane windows.
With $1 million in funding, several abandoned and/or distressed properties were acquired and demolished. Land will be returned to the open market or serve as open space for recreation, parks or other natural uses. Funds will be used to identify nuisances and engage in a process of removing those structures from our community.
