Anderson County getting a splash park as part of $2 million KidVenture playground redo

A new splash park, a first for Anderson County, is expected to be open before summer.

The splash park is part of a $2 million project to redo the popular KidVenture playground at the Civic Center of Anderson.

The park's footprint will grow and it will include a larger playground as well as the splash pad.

The project will get around $1.5 million in county funding and $700,000 in private and corporate donations. It is expected to be completed as early as Memorial Day, said Rusty Burns, the county’s administrator.

There could be slowdowns due to materials and labor supplies due to COVID-19 pandemic pressures but the project appears on track, he said.

The park improvements are a long time coming, said Julia Woodson, who has advocated for KidVenture for more than six years with fundraising and advocacy with the Friends of KidVenture organization.

Plans for a new splash park, expanding the existing KidVenture Park at the Civic Center of Anderson.
Plans for a new splash park, expanding the existing KidVenture Park at the Civic Center of Anderson.

"I'm so excited, it's more than I ever asked for," she said. "It's going to be a reality, after working for six years, with so many false starts, this will be the premier park."

Woodson said it is the biggest kids park in the county and is popular with kids, as well as families who are at the Civic Center for sports tournaments and other events.

Woodson said the money her group raised, less than $15,000 after helping to coordinate a larger gift for a swing set three years ago, has mattered but the advocacy and attention has helped to lead to the major changes.

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Mike Ellis lives in Powdersville and tells South Carolina stories with a focus on Anderson County and Pickens County along with faith and investigations. He's always looking for the next story that people need to read, please send any tips or feedback to mellis@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Anderson Independent Mail: Splash park expected to open around Memorial Day in Anderson County