COLUMBIA, S.C., April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The South Carolina State Park Service is holding a year-long celebration of its 75th anniversary, with events planned from the mountains to the sea.
The anniversary celebration begins on Friday, April 4, at 1 p.m. with a ceremony on the steps of Cheraw Town Hall that will re-enact the 1934 deed transfer for the land that would become Cheraw State Park. The community's citizens had purchased the land and donated it to the state, following up on enabling legislation in 1933 that called for the creation of "state forest parks."
Myrtle Beach -- First South Carolina Park to Open Gates
Part of a nationwide movement, the Cheraw acreage was the first land secured for a state park in South Carolina. The first park to open its gates here was Myrtle Beach on July 1, 1936. More followed in quick succession, built by the men of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and in 1937, the first year records were kept, 387,000 people visited South Carolina's state parks.
South Carolina State Parks -- Hiking, Cabins, Villas, Living History and More ...
Today, the S.C. State Park Service is part of the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism and operates 47 properties comprising nearly 90,000 acres of diverse landscape. Approximately 7 million visitors a year come to the parks to picnic and hike and stay in the more than 200 cabins and villas and 3,000 campsites. They also visit nature centers and living history programs and gain an appreciation of South Carolina's natural and cultural history with hands-on classes led by interpretive rangers.
"We have a unique state park system of unusual variety and inestimable value to the people of South Carolina and beyond," said SCPRT Director Chad Prosser.
Come Out and Play in South Carolina's State Parks
The year-long 75th anniversary celebration carries the theme "Come Out and Play," in recognition of the parks' vital role in adding to quality of life in South Carolina.
A community building groundbreaking and Founder's Day celebration at Charles Towne Landing on Friday, April 11, and Saturday, April 12, will follow the Cheraw kickoff. Observances then will be held at each of the other 45 parks during the year, and a coffee table book with legacy and new photographs of the parks will be published later this year.
The celebration also includes a statewide photo contest and other interactive activities at http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/ where visitors also can sign up for an e-newsletter. Click on the "Come Out and Play" icon on the site for games, event listings, travel deals and other highlights, as well as a very animated "invitation" for everyone to come out and enjoy their parks.
South Carolina State Parks and Tourism
