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Sumter County Active Lifestyles Pedestrian Plan

SCAL is pleased to present our very first pedestrian plan, entitled Sumter County Active Lifestyles Pedestrian Plan, March 2008. This publication outlines SCAL's long-range vision of an active and pedestrian-friendly community environment in Sumter County and our specific plan of action toward achieving our vision of "everyone in Sumter County being aware of and regularly enjoying the use of the county's safe, convenient, and attractive sidewalks, streets, public spaces, and trails." The plan is intended for Sumter County government leaders, planners, decision makers, community coalitions, residents, and any other interested parties for informational purposes relative to what SCAL is doing to improve the health and quality of life for all citizens of the county.

To view the Sumter County Active Lifestyles Pedestrian Plan online, click on the link above. A limited number of hard copies may be obtained at the SCAL office at 155 Haynsworth Street, Sumter, or by calling (803) 774-3860.

New Parks and Trails

SCAL had a very successful 2007 community mini-grants program. With extra funds from the University of South Carolina Prevention Research Center to provide to communities, four projects were completed.

Willow Drive Elementary School received funds for the first developmental phase of a new community park on the school’s property, called Willow Recreation Park, which will serve a neighborhood with government-subsidized housing and Sumter’s Historic District. The park is open to the public after school hours and on weekends. The mini-grant funds were used to resurface and stripe the basketball court and pay for new rims, a park sign, fencing, and striping of the soccer field. WILLOW RECREATION PARK

SCAL awarded funds to the Cherryvale Community Oriented Policing Organization to purchase a bike rack, sign, park benches, and trash cans for the new walking track at the Cherryvale Community Center, built by Sumter County in August 2007. The funds for the track construction were provided by the university.

CHERRYVALE TRACK

The Rembert Area Community Coalition received their mini-grant to construct a walking track. With assistance from the Sumter County Recreation and Parks Department, the Greater Township Community Track was built at the Greater Township Community Center in Rembert, a rural, predominately African American community with few opportunities to be physically active.

GREATER TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY TRACK

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?