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Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (SCPRT) is pleased to announce that a South Carolina project was selected to receive grant funding through the federal Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP).

Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission’s (CCPRC) Cooper River County Park development was selected for a $1 million ORLP grant. It is one of only 19 projects selected nationwide, and is the first project ever selected from South Carolina.

“Featuring passive leisure opportunities and beautiful water views, the revitalized Cooper River County Park will provide many recreational benefits to the community,” said David Bennett, Executive Director of the CCPRC. “We are so grateful to the National Park Service, who will make this project possible through their generous grant from the ORLP program.”

CCPRC will match the ORLP grant funding to complete phase one of the revitalization of Cooper River County Park. The park is currently home to a marina, and CCPRC plans to create an “urban oasis” using the undeveloped upland. The vision for the Cooper River County Park includes landscaping, passive recreation park amenities, trails, a picnic area, grills, bike racks, benches, marsh boardwalks and a sweeping view of the iconic Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge.

“This project provides additional recreation opportunities at a time when outdoor space has never been more treasured, and outdoor recreation demand is at an all-time high,” said SCPRT Director, Duane Parrish. “We commend the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission for their detailed plan and application that led to this award, and we remain dedicated to supporting localities across the Palmetto State as they work to bolster South Carolina destinations and recreation opportunities.”

A subset of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, ORLP launched in 2014 to help urban communities create new spaces, reinvigorate existing parks and grow the connection between people and the outdoors through matching grant opportunities. The program is administered by the National Park Service. SCPRT serves as South Carolina’s Land and Water Conservation Fund lead agency.

ORLP eligible projects directly benefit low income neighborhoods, are designed through engagement with neighborhood residents to ensure the project meets their recreation needs and interests, and ideally help provide economic benefits to the community, such as through job creation.

For more information about SCPRT grant programs visit scprt.com/grants. Read the full press release from the National Park Service here.

For more information, contact Sam Queen at sam@scprt.com or 803-767-3568. 

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