Heritage Health Walk Project

SCAL has recently been awarded a $5,000 grant from the state's Eat Smart, Move More South Carolina coalition to implement our proposed Heritage Health Walk pilot project over the next nine months. This project will test the feasibility of lay-led walking groups in an economically disadvantaged African American area of Sumter that will provide an opportunity for residents to experience walking clubs as a way to be more physically active. Planning has already begun for the project's logo development and kick-off community walk on September 27, 2008.

Project partners include Sumter County Active Lifestyles (SCAL), University of South Carolina Prevention Research Center, City of Sumter, Sumter County Recreation and Parks Department, state and local offices of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Tuomey Medical Professionals- Community Health Initiatives, Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, Walker Avenue Church of God, and other local entities.

More coverage of the Heritage Health Walk Project will be posted on our website in the coming months.

New Park under Development

The Salterstown Community Center is the recipient of SCAL's 2008 community mini-grant. The group plans to develop a community park to be located in Salterstown, a rural, predominately African American neighborhood on the east side of Sumter. The mini-grant will pay for the installation of a basketball half-court and walking track, benches, picnic tables, BBQ grills, bicycle rack, and park signs.

In the this photo, the paving contractor and a Community Center Improvement Committee member are measuring out where the walking track will be placed.

The Salterstown Community Center and SCAL are looking forward to the completion of the park that will provide yet another pleasant and accessible place Sumter County residents can go to for recreation, leisure, and exercise.

Harmony Court Walking Trail

On June 12, 2008, staff members of the Housing Authority, Housing Commission, SCAL, University of South Carolina Prevention Research Center, and apartment complex residents officially opened a new marked walking trail at the Harmony Court apartment complex near downtown Sumter. SCAL partnered with the Sumter Housing Authority to create a one-mile sidewalk trail marked with trail posts and arrows. Residents and their guests can literally step outside their front door onto the sidewalk and be on the trail! How convenient is that?