Page 8 - Camden Classically Carolina 2020

OUTSIDE
OUTSIDE
OUTSIDE
Reimagined, Repurposed, Reloved
Reimagined, Repurposed, Reloved
From lagoon to riverfront eco-park
From lagoon to riverfront eco-park
From lagoon to riverfront eco-park
From lagoon to riverfront eco-park

Camden Riverfront Environmental Park wins 2020 Achievement Award in Public Works
Camden Riverfront Environmental Park wins 2020 Achievement Award in Public Works
City’s creativity engineers new riverfront attraction
City’s creativity engineers new riverfront attraction
City’s creativity engineers new riverfront attraction
City’s creativity engineers new riverfront attraction
Park (CREP) C C and recreation
The closure of a wastewater lagoon
Camden is transforming a former
Camden is transforming a former
on the Wateree River opened
water treatment lagoon into its
water treatment lagoon into its
a
conservation
newest outdoor attraction for
newest outdoor attraction for
opportunity for the City of Camden.
residents and visitors. Camden’s
residents and visitors. Camden’s
Rather than simply filling in the site,
Wateree Riverfront Environmental
Wateree Riverfront Environmental
leaders chose to repurpose it into the
Park will offer exposure to wildlife,
Park will offer exposure to wildlife,
Camden Riverfront Environmental
access to riverfront recreation, and
access to riverfront recreation, and
T a wildlife habitat and
environmental education programs.
environmental education programs.
place for environmental education
and recreation opportunities. Built
According to City Manager Mel
According to City Manager Mel
on the site of the 1700s-era ferry
Pearson, the city teamed up
Pearson, the city teamed up
Port of Camden, the park has helped
with the National Park Service’s
with the National Park Service’s
to restore the connection between
Rivers, Trails and Conservation
Rivers, Trails and Conservation
the people of Camden and its river.
Assistance program to envision
Assistance program to envision
the park as an outdoor education
the park as an outdoor education
The city sought input for the park
center incorporating conservation,
center incorporating conservation,
through planning meetings and
environmental education resources,
environmental education resources,
engaged a landscape architecture
wildlife habitat and recreational
wildlife habitat and recreational
firm. The planning process designed
opportunities.
opportunities.
the park to be accessible under the
Americans with Disabilities Act
The use and design of the park is is
The use and design of the park
standards, and to be able to handle
a direct result of extensive public
a direct result of extensive public
river-flooding events.
input gathered via public meetings
input gathered via public meetings
and planning charrettes. Along with
and planning charrettes. Along with
The park grew from the original
local residents, representatives
local residents, representatives of of
16.5 acres to 26 acres and features
the Kershaw County Water and
the Kershaw County Water and
an interior half-mile meandering
Soil District, Kershaw County
Soil District, Kershaw County
waterway which hosts fish and
Historical Society, city planning
Historical Society, city planning
improves bird habitats. Around the
commission, council members and
commission, council members and
waterway is a near one mile trail
city staff were also involved.
city staff were also involved.
which links to the future phases
of the Kershaw County Bicycle,
A multi-phase project, the park
A multi-phase project, the park
Pedestrian and Greenways Plan. A
will include a canoe/kayak launch
will include a canoe/kayak launch
key feature is the riverfront canoe
with separate ADA compliant
with separate ADA compliant
and kayak launch.
launch, observation areas, bridges,
launch, observation areas, bridges,
and trails which will ultimately
and trails which will ultimately
With the project cost of $1.4 million,
connect to a county-wide trail
connect to a county-wide trail
the park is a less expensive option
system linking other area parks
system linking other area parks
for the site than the estimated $3
and trails.
and trails.
million cost of filling in the lagoon
for abandonment. The National
“If all goes to plan,” says Pearson,
“If all goes to plan,” says Pearson,
Park Service’s River, Trails and
“the new facility will not only
“the new facility will not only
Conservation Assistance Program
become an important city amenity,
become an important city amenity,
provided a technical assistance
but a very unique eco-tourism
but a very unique eco-tourism
grant to help decide the best use
opportunity for the region, as well.”
opportunity for the region, as well.”
for the lagoon through public input
14 / CAMDEN~CLASSICALLY CAROLINA CAMDEN ~ CLASSICALLY CAROLINA / 15
CAMDEN ~ CLASSICALLY CAROLINA / 63
62 / CAMDEN~CLASSICALLY CAROLINA CAMDEN ~ CLASSICALLY CAROLINA / 63
62 / CAMDEN~CLASSICALLY CAROLINA