WINNSBORO – The Town of Winnsboro is hosting a public meeting to provide project updates and gather input on plans for improvements at Fortune Springs Park. It is the second public meeting the Town has held for the project which aims to address flooding and water quality issues and restore park amenities.
The meeting will be held on Thursday, July 11, 2024, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Old Armory, 300 Park Street, Winnsboro SC.
The first meeting, held April 25, provided a first look at what a renovated Fortune Springs Park could look like in a year or so. The purpose of that meeting was to present the preliminary design for the park restoration and to receive community input on the project.
Representatives from McCormick Engineering, the S.C. Office of Resilience (SCOR), and Planscape landscape designers presented the plans and explained the timeline of the project.
The project is being funded by two grants from SCOR totaling $2,300,560.90.
Presenter Jason Hetrick, senior manager of water resources for McCormick Taylor said the initial goal of the project is to address the underlying drainage and flooding issues that have undermined the original park design over the years.
“Due to aging existing drainage systems in the area, nuisance flooding occurs regularly within the park during heavy rains,” he said. “Portions of the park have become inaccessible, unsafe, or have fallen into disrepair. Our goal is to design and build an improved storm water system in and around Fortune Springs Park.
Hetrick said SCOR and the Town are seeking to implement nature-based storm water improvements in the park to reduce flooding from the roadway and other sources, and to restore full access to the park and its amenities.
“Storm water improvements will include constructed wetlands and floodplain benching, bioswales, a regenerative stream, improvements to the existing pond and strategic selection and placement of native vegetation in wetland and upland areas,” Hetrick said.
The final design will be presented in the fall of 2024 and construction will begin in December, 2024. The project is expected to be completed by the summer of 2026, to include all ground, pond work, trees and landscaping in place as shown in the rendering, as well as renovations to the pond, walkways, fountains, and other structures.
Interim Town Manager Chris Clauson said the Town is using the grant funding from SCOR to help further the goal to revitalize Winnsboro.
“When this is all finished, it will have a huge positive impact on the town and the surrounding neighborhoods,” Clauson said.
