City

Local construction company awarded the construction bid for The Finlay Park Revitalization Project

The updates to Finlay Park include a revitalized fountain, new walkways, and maybe your art. | Rendering from the City of Columbia via the design team, Stantec + LS3P.

The ordinance authorizing the funding of the revitalization and construction of Finlay Park, Columbia’s primary urban park that opened in 1990, was passed during the City Council meeting on Tuesday.

Plans to update the 17.5-acre park have been in the works since 2019, but are now moving forward quickly. WLTX reported a groundbreaking could ensue as early as this July.

💰 The funds

The full revitalization will cost $21.5 million.

State funds: $1 million
Hospitality taxes: $5 million
General fund: $2 million
Congaree fund: $3 million
Bond issue: $10.5 million

🌳 The goal

The goal is to update existing amenities and increase accessibility, safety, and visibility so citizens are encouraged to partake in outdoor activities.

⛲ The updates

A key feature of the new park will be the renovated fountain with cascading falls that flow into a new central pond. The new water feature will also incorporate sustainable techniques to treat stormwater.

Other amenities include:

A stage and lawn to host events
Gardens
Restrooms
Shelters
A playground with a splash pad
Enhanced lighting and parking
Public art
Hospitality offices
Accessibility upgrades
A plaza overlook

Want a more in-depth look? Check out the full, 40-page master plan that includes more renderings, floor plans, inspiration pictures, and more in the button below.

FULL PLAN HERE

Let’s test your Cola history. Finlay Park opened in 1990 but used to be what park, originally designated in 1859?

A. Doko Park
B. Sydney Park
C. Leeland Park
D. Columbia Park

See the answer in the Wrap.

PARK YOUR ANSWER HERE

Click here to have your event featured.

Thursday, Feb. 23

Wine in the Garden | Thursday, Feb. 23 | 6:30-9 p.m. | The River Road and Jasmine Houses, 2208 North Lake Dr., Columbia | $60 | Each Spanish wine will be paired with a small bite curated by chef Nick Rodriguez.
Irmo Library Donation Day | Thursday, Feb. 23 | 2-5 p.m. | Irmo Branch Library, 6251 St. Andrews Rd., Columbia | Free | Books may be dropped off curbside at the side entrance to the library, where Friends volunteers will assist in unloading.

Friday, Feb. 24

South Carolina Gamecocks Baseball vs. Pennsylvania Quakers Baseball | Friday, Feb. 24-Sunday, Feb. 26 | Times vary | Founders Park, 431 Williams St., Columbia | $12-$15 | Don’t forget about the clear bag policy as you enter the stadium.
Stagbriar, Persona La Ave, Outerego | Friday, Feb. 24 | 7-11 p.m. | New Brookland Tavern, 122 State St., West Columbia | $12-$15 | Local folk-rock band Stagbriar will perform songs from their upcoming album due out later this year.
Patrick Davis & His Midnight Choir | Friday, Feb. 24 | 7:30 p.m. | Harbison Theatre, 7300 College St., Irmo | $40 | Patrick has almost 80 songs recorded by other artists, including Darius Rucker, Jimmy Buffett, Jewel, Morgan Wallen, Lady A, Guy Clark, and Robert Randolph.

Saturday, Feb. 25

In Full Effect: A Celebration of South Carolina Hip-Hop | Saturday, Feb. 25 | South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia | Free | In partnership with FatRat Da Czar, this special family event will honor and celebrate 50 years of hip-hop in South Carolina by showcasing its four core elements: DJing, Breakdance, Graffiti art, and Rapping.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Development

These townhomes combine historic charm and modern living

Presented by a COLAtoday Partner

A wide shot of the spacious living room in one of the townhome units.

Imagine your friends + family gathered around the fireplace with Columbia’s vibrant downtown at your doorstep.
| Photo provided by The Wheeler Group

Character and convenience meet at the The Homes at McCants. Originally home to Fannie C McCants Elementary School, built in 1931, the building has been transformed into 11 townhomes in the historic Earlewood neighborhood (read: central to Main Street, Bull Street redevelopment, and the Vista).

The property maintains the elegant historic feel with high ceilings, exposed brick, and restored hardwood floors, and has been adapted to today’s living with modern kitchens + bathrooms, energy-efficient windows, and 13 SEER (read: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) HVAC units.

The townhomes feature one- and two-bedroom floor plans, a three bedroom unit as well as two-bedrooms with a studio/office option. Each resident gets two designated parking spaces, with 11 additional parking spaces available for visitors and guests.

Nine of the townhomes are now for sale and ready to be called home.*

LEARN MORE

Weather

82º | Cloudy | 10% chance of rain

Announced

Mark your calendar for April 23 because popular American rapper Lil Wayne is coming to Columbia on his ‘Welcome To Tha Carter Tour’. Tickets go on sale this Friday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. 🎟️

Coming Soon

TakoSushi announced it would be opening another location across the street from the Icehouse Amphitheater in Lexington County. The Asian and Latin-inspirited restaurant is set to open sometime this summer. 🥢(Lexington Chronicle)

Listen

Season two of Around Town with @Colamayor kicked off today. Mayor Rickenmann sat down with Gamecock football’s head coach Shane Beamer to talk about how to develop a winning culture. Listen to the episode here. 🎧
Calling all bibliophiles. Level up your reading routine with an Audible Membership. Why we love it: we can listen to our favorite books and discover new titles while doing everyday tasks like commuting, walking the dog, cooking, and cleaning. Sign up for your first 30 days free. 📚*

Transit

The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) is accepting applications for The COMET Academy — a five-week leadership development program that provides a behind-the-scenes look at the transit system. Classes will meet once a week on Mondays at 5:30 p.m. beginning March 6. 🚍

Arts

The Historic Melrose Art in the Yard returns Sunday, April 16. From 1-5 p.m., browse artists’ original work, grub on food trucks, listen to live music, and take Historic Columbia’s Palladium Tour. The art event is free and open to the public, but tickets will be required for the tour of homes. 🌳

Community

Chapin High School — currently owned by the Lexington-Richland Five School District — may be turned into a community or performing arts center. The town council voted to have the property assessed for the practicality of the proposed project, which will take ~16 months. (The Post and Courier)

Home

Looking to upgrade your HVAC system? Cool Care and Heating is offering a trade-in deal through Sunday, April 30 — get a brand new system, and receive $1,500 for your old one. Note: Only one per service address + this deal cannot be combined with other offers. Call (803) 772-7715 to schedule an appointment.*

Feel Good

Want to reduce your risk of heart disease + lower cholesterol levels? Get a dog. Studies show owning a pet reduces these health risks and improves the ability to manage stress. See how Lexington Medical Center’s Pet Therapy team treated staff to some stress-reducing puppy love for Valentine’s Day last week. 🐶*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Development

USC and Lexington Medical Center break ground on College of Nursing

College of Nursing Rendering_No Cars_2023.jpg

The new College of Nursing is expected to graduate 400 nurses per year. | Photo rendering provided by LMC

USC and Lexington Medical Center (LMC) broke ground on the new 52,000-sqft College of Nursing in West Columbia on Thursday. The project is expected to open for the first group of nursing students in fall 2024.

The public-private partnership includes LMC providing clinical instructors and building the new facility while the university will fund equipment, a simulation center, equipment + furnishings for classrooms.

USC’s College of Nursing graduates about 220 nurses from the Cola campus annually, but that number will increase to 400 nurses per year with the new location. The university and hospital also partner on a graduate medical education program to train primary care physicians. The first GME program will accept 13 residents per year beginning this summer.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Sam.

Editor’s pick: The answer to the Finlay Park quiz is B, Sydney Park. Fun fact: Sydney Park fell into disrepair after the Civil War and was not used again as a public park until it reopened in 1990 as Finlay Park.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Get answers to your heart health questions, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Samantha Robertson, David Stringer, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith| Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Lindsey Rhinesmith| Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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