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Feb. 23, 2023 | Issue 10
Highlights from the Town of Fort Mill
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Community Offers Input at Trail Master Plan Workshop
The Town of Fort Mill hosted an open house/drop-in meeting on Feb. 8, 2023 to gather input for its ongoing Trail Master Plan project. More than a hundred community members stopped by the meeting room at Unity Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall to view draft maps, offer input on potential future trails within the Town, and describe their priorities for the initiative. The meeting was the next phase in the project to solicit community input on trail network recommendations.
The goal of the Trail Master Plan is to identify existing and potential trails in the Town and find ways to connect them to transportation corridors, parks, schools and other places of interest within Fort Mill. Ultimately, the plan will help establish a long-range vision for trails within the community. For more information, including draft maps and results of a recent community survey, visit www.fortmillsc.gov/TrailMasterPlan.
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Town of Fort Mill Celebrating 150th Anniversary in 2023
Please join the Town of Fort Mill as we mark a monumental event in 2023- the 150th Anniversary of the Town’s incorporation! The Town officially marked this milestone on Sunday, February 12, 2023, but we have a year of exciting events planned all throughout 2023. Helping us celebrate this year-long milestone are several community partners, including Domtar, Fort Mill Economic Partners, Anne Springs Close Greenway and the Fort Mill History Museum. Together we will be hosting a full slate of events and initiatives for the community to participate in.
We will be celebrating with special activities at our events this year including:
- Family Fun Day on March 25
- South Carolina Strawberry Festival Events, from April 29 through May 6
- Fort Mill Fall Festival in October
Be sure to join us on July 3 as the Town hosts its annual Independence Day Celebration combined with the Town’s 150th Anniversary Party!
We are also encouraging the community to help celebrate in many ways, including:
-The Fort Mill 150 Fit Challenge where the public can Walk or Run 150 miles throughout the year and win prizes
-The Fort Mill Art Contest celebrating the Past, Present and Future of Fort Mill
-The Fort Mill 150 Photo Challenge where you can share your pictures of Town Events, Landscapes, Landmarks and People
-Local businesses can join to be part of the Fort Mill 150 Passport by signing up at the Town’s website and telling us how you would like to participate
-And be on the lookout for a special Community Outreach planned for November
For details, visit www.fortmillsc.gov/FortMill150 and watch the video below of Fort Mill Mayor Guynn Savage describing our year-long events.
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Fort Mill Installing New Playground Equipment at Walter Elisha Park
The Town of Fort Mill is excited to announce that new playground equipment will be installed at Walter Y. Elisha Park in the coming months.
Demolition on the existing playground began Feb. 13, 2023 and the projected completion date of the new playground will be late April 2023. For safety purposes during demolition of the old playground and construction of the new playground, please do not enter the construction area. There will be signage posted at the site advising the public to stay away. Please report any safety matters after hours or during weekends to the Fort Mill Police Department (803-547-2022) or during the work week (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.) to the Fort Mill Parks & Recreation Department (803-547-2273).
Alternative playgrounds to use during construction are located at the following parks: Banks Athletic Park, 2364 Sparkling Brook Parkway; Doby Bridge Park, 1905 N. Doby’s Bridge Road; Harris Street Park, 465 Harris Street; Millstone Park, 104 Spratt Street; and Steele Street Park, 600 Steele Street.
The new Walter Elisha playground will include features such as a spider web for climbing, umbrella canopies, a rock climbing area, slides and tubes, as well as inclusive elements. It will include green and beige colors to blend with the park. To see additional renderings of the new playground or to learn more, please visit the Spotlights section of our website at www.fortmillsc.gov.
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Town Honors Winners of Stormwater Student Art Contest
The Town of Fort Mill's Stormwater Department recently honored the winners of its first ever Stormwater Art Contest.
As part of the school district-wide art contest, students were asked to submit artwork that raises awareness about the impact a community can have on local streams, rivers and lakes. Our 11 student winners were chosen and honored at a reception hosted by Debbie Whitsett at Olive’s Mud Puddle in downtown Fort Mill. The students’ artwork will be utilized by volunteer artists from the Catawba River Arts Guild in the creation of a public mural, located in Kingsley near the stormwater pond. A big thank you to all the students who submitted artwork this year! The art contest will become an annual competition and in 2023-2024 it will expand to include adults in our community, as well as student artists.
The Catawba River Arts Guild volunteers are busy brainstorming and drafting the mural design. Once finalized and approved, the mural will be installed in May, with a ribbon cutting held in June. Are you a local artist who would like to volunteer your time and talent with the painting of the mural? Reach out to Mina MacDonald, Stormwater Management Coordinator (mmacdonald@fortmillsc.gov), for details.
Many thanks to the sponsors of the student art contest and the mural installation. Support for this project is provided in part by the Arts Council of York County Small Grants Program, and by a generous award from the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
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Rain Barrel Sale
The Town's Stormwater Department is excited to offer its new Rain Barrel program this spring. Rain barrels capture water from a roof and hold it for later use such as on lawns, gardens or indoor plants. This reduces the amount of water flowing from your property and helps to conserve water.
Anyone may purchase a rain barrel for use at their home or business (including non-Town residents). To purchase your rain barrel, click here. If you are a Town of Fort Mill resident, you may also apply for a Stormwater Fee Credit once you install your rain barrel. Deadline to order online is March 22 by 11 p.m. Our pick-up date will be April 1, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Town's Utilities & Public Works Building, 131 E Elliott St. Click here to learn more about the program.
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Meet Dominic, our Stormwater Department's first-ever Adopt-a-Storm Drain volunteer, who joined the program when it rolled out in 2022. He has adopted storm drains in his neighborhood, checks them once a month and keeps them clear of trash and debris. When asked why he wanted to volunteer, Dominic said “My interest in keeping the environment clean started at an early age, when I began helping my mom with service projects. I started volunteering for the litter cleanup program for York County in 2021 and the storm drain cleanups last year. I feel like every little bit helps to reduce pollution.”
Interested in volunteering to clean up litter, adopt a storm drain or join in several other environmentally friendly initiatives? There are several upcoming opportunities:
March 11: Second Saturday Service
April 1: Rain Barrel Distribution Day
April 15: Town-wide Litter Sweep Event
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Piedmont Hosting Hiring Event March 9
Please join Piedmont Medical Center on March 9 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Brakefield at Riverwalk (1111 Brakefield Drive, Rock Hill, SC) to meet with PMC’s Chief Nursing Officers to learn about career opportunities. Hiring leaders will be onsite for interviews and offers will be given on the spot after a brief presentation. They are hiring for all specialties (day and night shift) at Piedmont Medical Center – Fort Mill, Piedmont Medical Center – Rock Hill, and Gold Hill Emergency Department. PMC will be offering sign-on bonuses for select positions, tuition reimbursement up to $3,000 in the first 60 Days, and more. To register, email Jaclyn.Gehrke@tenethealth.com.
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WRHI News Update
Check out the latest information on upcoming Town news and events from Public Relations Manager Chris Sardelli who was interviewed recently on WRHI. Listen to the Feb. 15 show here.
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Join Our Team
Want to join the Town of Fort Mill's incredible workforce? The Town has several openings in Utilities, Finance/ Administration, Police, Fire, Planning, and Public Works. Click the button below to learn about the application process and to see available Employment Opportunities. We look forward to having you join the team!
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March 25: Family Fun Day, Walter Elisha Park and Amphitheater, 345 N. White St., 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
April 14 through May 6: SC Strawberry Festival Events, various locations in Fort Mill
May 13: Fort Mill Farmers Market season begins, Veterans Park, 106 N. White St., 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
May 29: Memorial Day Ceremony, Unity Cemetery, 10 a.m.
For more info or to see the full schedule, click the links above or visit www.fortmillsc.gov/TownEvents or www.scstrawberryfestival.com.
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