HOPKINS, S.C. — It was an exciting day for the Lower Richland community Wednesday as a groundbreaking took place for the new Hopkins Park Pool.
The pool closed in May of 2023, when the county said the pool had reached its life expectancy, resulting in major safety concerns. But now, a new project has begun to return it to its former glory.
It's something residents in the area are glad to hear.
"I learned to swim here, my children learned to swim here, and it has been a staple in our community," said Felicia Nazer, who's lived in Hopkins her whole life.
When she thinks of summer, she thinks of the Hopkins Park pool. "It just always brings the community closer together," she said.
Felicia isn't the only one who learned to swim at the pool.
"Swimming here as a little girl and actually taking Red Cross lessons here when I was 18," said Cheryl English, the Richland County Council District 10 representative who helped receive funding for the project.
Following the pool's closing, the county's Recreation Commission began searching for a way to get it back.
"The county was able to partner with four major public facilities and infrastructure projects across the county including this important project to reopen this pool," English explained.
"Coming on board, the pool issue was an issue prior to me coming here. Once I got on the board of the Recreation Commission, they wanted me to jump on this project to ensure we could get some momentum going," said Taurus Lewis, the Executive Director of the Richland County Recreation Commission.
That momentum carried into December, when Richland County Council approved the project's funding.
"This $385,000 Community Development Block Grant Public Facility award was given to Richland County Recreation Commission to invest in the Hopkins Park renovation project," English said.
And as a district native who now represents the area, English is grateful.
"Being placed in a position to do this because I've grown up here, it just means so much to help make this happen," English said.
With the pool's opening set for this September, community members look forward to not only utilizing the facility, but continuing to help build a stronger community for residents.
"I am hoping other children continue to swim. That's my hope," English said. "That we are educated on swimming, that seniors have an opportunity to have an additional exercise option, and it just community fun."
Demolition and the reconstruction of the pool, including plumbing and deck renovations, will begin right away. However, the city has not chosen a contractor for the the pool house renovation, new parking lots, and shade structure.