Darlington City Council gets project estimate

Darlington City Council received an estimated project cost of $220,000 for bridge, walkway and trail improvements in the town’s pristine Williamson Park during Tuesday night’s meeting.

The plan was prepared by Ervin Engineering Co. Inc., engineers, surveyors and planners of Florence. It was presented by Jennie Williamson.

Williamson said the $220,000 was less than a previous estimate she presented to council.

“I would ask that you would take full consideration of funding it,” she added.

Mayor Tony Watkins commended Williamson and all the volunteers for the work they have done in the park. He said the park is a great place and “I hope we can see our way to provide as much funding as possible. We will, at a future date beyond April, be able to address the funding issue.”

Williamson said before the meeting that the push to reclaim the park from the weeds and bramble has been growing over the years. She said the late Dr. John M. Wilson took things into his own hands in 2004 and “really triggered the volunteer-led revitalization interests that had been building up over the years.”

“However, the work of the past five years has been of a different, more focused and energized sort,” she said. “Thousands and thousands of hours of volunteer time have been dedicated to Williamson Park from people all over the area, not just Darlington. Thanks to the steadfast dedication and tremendous amount of time donated by Andy and Peggy Cohen, who don’t even live in Darlington, the park looks better than it has in eight or more years — and all that without increased city money. But it’s time for a bigger step forward, one that the volunteers simply cannot make on our own.”

Williamson said if the city will support the park’s master plan, much good can be built on the volunteer work, donated materials and tens of thousands of dollars of donated funds that have been spent in and on the park, especially during the past five years.

“I have only been back in Darlington for three and a half years and on the committee for a shorter time, but in that time, I have seen the momentum of support for the park and visitation grow dramatically,” she said

Williamson said volunteer projects last year and this spring have included people from Darlington, Hartsville and even Florence, including Mayo High School students, Darlington High School students, Eagle Scouts, park neighbors and Honda plant employees.

“The number of volunteers, the diversity in where they come from and the amount of time and energy they spend all seem to be increasing,” she said. “The park has been the recipient of tens of thousands of dollars worth of donated materials. Donations have also included mulch for the paths both provided and delivered. The list just goes on and on.”

The list of sponsors of and registrants in the Park Run grows every year and the $7,000 to $13,000 in annual proceeds go to the park beautification, Williamson said. Those people and businesses range from the city of Darlington to Darlington County, Hartsville and Florence. To date, the run and other recent monetary contributions have brought in about $45,000.

“People all over this region love this park — a woodland preserve — and it is increasingly becoming a tourist attraction, thanks to the good work of Darlington County Tourism and Jim Money’s efforts to highlight birding opportunities,” Williamson said.