Winnsboro, SC - The South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR) is pleased to announce construction has begun on the Fortune Springs Stormwater Project in Winnsboro, SC following a Notice to Proceed issued on July 31, 2025.  The project’s design finalization and construction is funded by $2,715,569.90 from SCOR’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Stormwater Infrastructure Program (ASIP). In addition to restoring an existing stormwater pond, new 24-inch drainage pipe and structures, plus improvements to vegetative swales in Fortune Springs Park, will be implemented.

Fortune Springs Park was established immediately following the Revolutionary War and acquired by the Town in 1880. The park includes walking paths, tennis courts, a County-run swimming pool, and an existing stormwater pond. Severe flooding occurs during rain events and has led to erosion and sediment control issues, making portions of the park inaccessible and unsafe. Additionally, stormwater runoff routinely impacts the historic Old Armory Building, which sits adjacent to the park.

"The Fortune Springs Stormwater Project represents a major investment in the future of our town. This initiative not only addresses long-standing flooding and erosion issues but also preserves and enhances one of Winnsboro’s most historic and beloved parks,” explains Mayor Demetrius Chatman, Town of Winnsboro. “By incorporating nature-based solutions and improving stormwater infrastructure, we’re making our community safer, more resilient, and better prepared for the challenges ahead. I’m grateful to the South Carolina Office of Resilience for their partnership and support in helping us move Winnsboro forward."

The park is surrounded by several neighborhoods that rely on the recreation opportunities and flood risk reduction potential that the park offers. Notably, nearly two thirds of the households in the service area who are estimated to benefit from reduced flood risks earn low- to moderate-level incomes.

“I look forward to the multiple benefits this project will bring to members of the community,” says Representative Annie E. McDaniel, SC House District 41. “By leveraging nature-based solutions, including wetland restoration and other flood risk reduction strategies, the park’s natural beauty is being preserved and revitalized for the citizens of Winnsboro to enjoy.”

To retain the benefits of green space for stormwater retention, release, and quality improvements, the project will rely heavily on nature-based resilient stormwater improvements. These include bioretention swales and wetland cells, which utilize native plant species and strategic grading to channel water away from critical structures. Additionally, construction of boardwalks, walkways, parking areas and other drainage improvements will be implemented to enhance the park’s passive recreation elements.

“Part of this project aims to eliminate the erosion issues to which the park was originally susceptible,” states SC Chief Resilience Officer Ben Duncan. “This means our environmental impact in Winnsboro will be an improvement, rather than a negative impact.”

To date, SCOR has committed approximately $65 million in ARPA Stormwater Infrastructure Program funds for improvements across South Carolina.

###

About SCOR: The South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR) is committed to enhancing the state's ability to anticipate, absorb, recover, and thrive when presented with environmental changes and natural hazards by planning and coordinating statewide resilience, long-term disaster recovery, and hazard mitigation. In addition to serving 3,459 homes in our Disaster Recovery Program, SCOR has 81 active flood mitigation projects, including voluntary buyouts, stormwater infrastructure, and plans and studies, across the State. SCOR continues to implement and maintain the Strategic Statewide Resilience and Risk Reduction Plan, which provides a framework to guide investment in projects, programs, and policies to protect the people and property of South Carolina from the damage and destruction of extreme weather events.