Planned planetarium in downtown Spartanburg would continue to transform Church, Broad streets

For Spartanburg County Librarian Todd Stephens, when it comes to new ways to educate and entertain, the sky's the limit.

At Monday night's Spartanburg County Council meeting, Stephens announced a planned planetarium that would be adjacent to the downtown library and across Church Street from the new city-county government complex when it is built.

"By the end of the year, we should be able to turn dirt," Stephens said.

"Our young people need to have continued ongoing intellectual stimulation that builds a degree of wonderment," he explained. "We need to — as a community and public library — provide opportunities for those who have chosen to stay in Spartanburg."

Stephens said a three-level, 10,000-square-foot planetarium will cost roughly $8 million to $10 million. Already, he said $3 million in private donations has been raised, and there is roughly $5 million from a bond re-issuance for the Inman Public Library project.

"That corner has bothered me for a long time," he said of the lawn between the library and South Church and Broad streets. "I've had it studied for everything from a public art space to a plaza."

Last spring, he said pledges began to be made for the project.

County Council members reacted with enthusiasm.

"I think Todd is a real asset to Spartanburg County," Council Chairman Manning Lynch said. "I'm real excited what it's going to mean to that entrance corridor downtown. With the city-county complex across the street, it's a real transformation to that block."

Councilman David Britt was on County Council when the current library headquarters opened in April 1997.

"The timing and placement of this project is perfect and fits into our upward trajectory into the future," Britt said. "We have only just begun to see where Spartanburg is heading, and the library system's leadership just put us in high gear."

Councilman Monier Abusaft said he also supports the project, adding that it will help extend the prosperous downtown area toward the city's south side, which he said needs the economic boost.

Mayor Jerome Rice said he supports the project, saying it will be "another amenity to our city to bring more folks and bring more eyes on Spartanburg.

"The location will be great," Rice said. "With all the new additions that will be forthcoming — a new city hall and $80 million investment on (East) Main Street — we have a lot of momentum to bring people downtown."

Stephens said the new Fairforest Middle School in School District 6 has a planetarium and science center, with seating for 108 students.

Greenville has the Roper Mountain Science Center features the Hooper Planetarium, which is open to the public for laser shows. It features a new 360-degree full immersion dome, 4K projection, state-of-the-art lighting and 5.1 surround sound.

And the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia features a 55-foot digital dome planetarium with astronomy shows, programs focused on art, history and laser light shows.

Stephens said the Spartanburg planetarium will borrow some of those features, with a 45-foot dome and seating for roughly 130 people.

"We're putting forth something that people travel to other parts of the country to enjoy," he said. "What we're doing is bringing something here for people to come here. The economic impact is tremendous with shopping, eating."

County Councilwoman Jessica Coker said a planetarium makes a statement to the younger residents and everyone else who pursues learning.

"This is exactly what I envisioned when I speak of county council’s ability to help support education of our kids," she said. "We need more of this, and I can’t wait to see how we can find additional solutions that further education. A special thank-you to Todd and the library board for bringing this to us."

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Planetarium announced for downtown Spartanburg on library site