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Columbia, S.C. – Twenty-one recreation projects across South Carolina will receive support from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to expand or improve local parks, public boating areas, and more.

The LWCF is a federal grant available to eligible local and state government entities to reimburse up to 50% of the project cost to acquire or develop outdoor recreation areas and facilities. Any property that uses LWCF money must be maintained in perpetuity as an active and viable outdoor recreation site.

“LWCF funding helps state and local entities acquire, enhance, and create vital recreational areas that exist in perpetuity,” said SCPRT Director, Duane Parrish. “Outdoor recreation projects benefit our local economies and improve our quality of life. It’s exciting to see so many communities expanding their recreational opportunities.”

The following projects were selected in the 2024 LWCF cycle:

Upstate:

• City of Belton | Leda Poore Park | Development
  Grant Award: $500,000 | Total Project Cost: $1,297,429
  This project will construct a multi-use structure for concessions, storage, restrooms, and a press box. 
• City of Greenville | Cleveland Park Playground Replacement | Development
  Grant Award: $500,000 | Total Project Cost: $1,111,417
  This project will install two interconnected playgrounds, eight stand-alone elements, approximately six swings with bucket swing seats, and inclusive equipment.   
• Greenville County | Southside Park Playground | Development
  Grant Award: $500,000 | Total Project Cost: $1,000,000
  The project includes the removal and demolition of existing playground structures, surfacing, sidewalks and fencing, and installation of new accessible playground equipment, safety surface, shade structures, new sidewalks and fencing. Sitework also includes grading, drainage, storm water improvements, paths, and landscaping.
• City of Spartanburg | Duncan Park | Development
  Grant Award: $401,278 | Total Project Cost: $802,556
  Construction of an accessible perimeter trail and accessible picnic shelter with storage, engineering and design, site work for preparation of the trail and picnic shelter.
• Spartanburg County | North Spartanburg Park Improvements | Development
  Grant Award: $433,500 | Total Project Cost: $867,000
  This project will include repaving and striping all parking lots, adding parking lot islands, and replacing the synthetic playing surface on the Carolina Miracle League field.

Midlands:                    

• Aiken County | Boyd Pond Park Amphitheater | Development
  Grant Award: $300,000 | Total Project Cost: $600,000
  This project will construct an outdoor amphitheater with tiered seating, drainage, landscaping, irrigation, paved sidewalks, lighting, and utilities. Also included is a support building to house control and access for electrical, sound, irrigation, and lighting.
• Town of Edgefield | Dixie Youth Baseball Complex Improvements | Development
  Grant Award: $150,000 | Total Project Cost: $300,000
  This project includes demolition of the current concession building and construction of new accessible concessions with storage, office space, and covered picnic area, drainage improvements for five baseball fields, landscape improvements, and design and utility improvements. 
• Town of Cheraw | Arrowhead Park Splash Pad | Development
  Grant Award: $103,737.50 | Total Project Cost: $207,475
  This project will construct a splash pad at Arrowhead Park, which includes plumbing, electrical, site preparation, grading, drainage, accessible sidewalks, benches, tables, and fencing.
• SC State Parks | Cheraw State Park Boardwalk Renovation | Development
  Grant Award: $500,000 | Total Project Cost: $1,000,000
  Renovate the boardwalk trail, making it ADA accessible, which includes site preparation for a paved accessible portion of the existing trail and installation of pavement in a portion of the trail to make the boardwalk accessible, demo of the existing boardwalk, and construction of a new accessible boardwalk.

• Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission | Saluda Shoals Environmental Education Center Revitalization | Development
  Grant Award: $230,818 | Total Project Cost: $461,636
  The Saluda Shoals Park Environmental Education Center will be revitalized by constructing ADA-accessible restrooms to the outside deck area, adding two new ADA-accessible access points to the building, and expanding the outdoor deck. Architectural, engineering, and demolition are included.
• York County | Catawba Bend Preserve Copperhead Mountain Bike Trails | Development
  Grant Award: $500,000 | Total Project Cost: $1,000,000
  This project includes design and construction of approximately eight miles of single-use track, natural surface biking trails, parking lot, and signage.  

Pee Dee:

• SC State Parks | Black River: Browns Ferry Tract | Acquisition
  Grant Award: $500,000 | Total Project Cost: $1,000,000
  SC State Parks will acquire approximately 355 acres of land to expand Black River State Park.
• SC State Parks | Black River: Cold Creek | Acquisition
  Grant Award: $321,000 | Total Project Cost: $642,000
  SC State Parks will acquire approximately 313.1 acres of land to expand Black River State Park.
• City of Lake City | Blanding Street Park Restroom Facility & Pathway Lights | Development
  Grant Award: $312,570 | Total Project Cost: $625,140
  This project includes the construction of a restroom with a concession area and storage that includes site preparation, utilities, water, sewer, and electrical. The project also includes solar lighting along the perimeter pathway and landscaping.  
• Marlboro County | Lindsay Park Improvements | Development
  Grant Award: $500,000 | Total Project Cost: $1,000,000
  This project will include replacing an existing restroom, rehabbing the existing press box, rehabbing the existing picnic shelter, and renovating five existing baseball fields to include restoring the fields, lighting for one field, fencing, dugouts, scoreboards, and backstops, and landscaping. The project also includes adding new trash receptacles around the park.  
• Town of McBee | McBee Recreational Complex Phase I | Development
  Grant Award: $126,812 | Total Project Cost: $253,624
  This project includes adding new playground equipment, site work, and architectural and engineering.

Lowcountry:

• Charleston County Parks & Recreation Commission | Cooper River County Park Phase II | Development
  Grant Award: $500,000 | Total Project Cost: $1,964,720
  This project will construct an ADA-compliant restroom and shower building (with a park office, storage area, janitor’s closet, and IT/data closet), an open-air pavilion adjacent to the restroom building, and porches/shade structures.     
• Town of Edisto Beach | Jungle Shores Drive Bike Path Resurface | Development
  Grant Award: $145,000 | Total Project Cost: $290,000
  This project will resurface the existing five-foot bike path along Jungle Shores Drive to Dawhoo Street and along Dawhoo Street from Jungle Shores to Jungle Road. The project also includes removing the existing bike path, addressing drainage issues, adding new compacted base materials, and repaving the bike path.
• Town of Moncks Corner | Dr. William H. Lacey Park | Development
  Grant Award: $500,000 | Total Project Cost: $1,007,325
  This project will consist of renovating the two existing tennis courts, adding two additional tennis courts, replacing the playground equipment, resurfacing the existing parking lot, adding paved walkways, site work, and landscape development.
• Town of Ridgeland | Ridgeland Trails | Development
  Grant Award: $300,000 | Total Project Cost: $600,000
  This project will construct an accessible asphalt trail and wooden boardwalk ending with an overlook, a gravel parking area, and a sidewalk around the parking area. Also included is the demo of the current sidewalk, grubbing, and installation of bollards.
• City of Walterboro | Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary Boardwalks | Development
  Grant Award: $500,000 | Total Project Cost: $1,151,508
  This project will replace 700 feet of wooden boardwalks and three wooden bridges with PermaTrak Concrete Boardwalks and prefabricated steel bridges along the walking trail.  

SCPRT serves as South Carolina’s LWCF lead agency. The LWCF program is administered by the National Park Service. Grants range from $50,000 - $300,000, with projects of statewide or regional significance qualifying for up to $500,000 (with pre-approval). The property must be owned outright by the applicant to be eligible. 

Information about the next LWCF cycle is expected to be announced in August 2025. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Debbie Jordan, SCPRT Grants Coordinator, at djordan@scprt.com as soon as possible to discuss their projects and the requirements and restrictions of the LWCF program.

Find additional award criteria, contact information, and eligibility information here. Learn more about SCPRT grant programs at scprt.com/grants.

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