Council and staff hear requests for more rec field time, lights and playground fencing; staff outlines constraints and plans

Britney Mims, a volunteer coach who runs youth travel softball teams drawn from Simpsonville rec players, told council she has repeatedly sought dedicated practice time and consistent lighting at Heritage Park and described the city’s “first come, first serve” field policy as a barrier to building a travel program. “We need just a little bit of help with that,” Mims said.

Robbie Davis, representing Parks and Recreation, said the department prioritizes municipal recreation program needs and follows a first-come, first-served practice for available fields. Davis said the department fields heavy scheduling demands, particularly during peak season, and that staff sometimes must limit rentals for safety and maintenance — for example, during peak field preparation times (spraying, seeding) or when overtime staffing would be required. Davis said he had talked with travel-team representatives and that the department may be able to help when a significant share of participants are city recreation registrants.

Council members also raised playground safety. Multiple council members requested adding fencing around the new park playground to reduce the risk of children running toward parking areas. City Administrator Diana Gracely and parks staff said the original design prioritized sightlines and aesthetics and that a partial visual barrier along the front sidewalk — about 60 feet one way and 100 feet the other — could be added in Phase 2 without full enclosure. Council members voiced a preference for a full fence if feasible; staff said they would pursue solutions that balance safety, topography and design.

On the pump track, Director Davis reported that some replacement parts have been ordered and a full repair is expected by late summer; a partial, limited track can be used while parts arrive. On the Swamp Rabbit Trail extension to Heritage Park, staff said SCDOT is comfortable with a proposed route that includes a signal at Highway 14 crossing; engineering and right-of-way work continue and a privately donated parcel may become the trailhead when donation closing documents are completed.

Why it matters

Field scheduling and reliable lighting affect youth programs, travel teams and local sports tournaments that drive park use and nearby business activity. Playground fencing is a frequent constituent request tied to child safety; council signaled willingness to fund improvements if staff can propose workable designs and costs.

Next steps

- Parks staff to follow up with travel-team organizers (John Harris and others) and explore scheduling approaches that favor municipal program participants while considering rentals.

- Parks and Public Works staff to provide a cost estimate and design options for either a partial visual barrier or a full playground fence to be considered in Phase 2 park improvements.

- Pump track repair timeline: additional parts ordered; completion anticipated late summer 2025.

- Swamp Rabbit Trail: staff will continue engineering, right-of-way work and coordination with SCDOT; staff to report back with route and cost estimates when available.

Source quotes

“We don't deal with travel teams. … We are charged to take care of the kids that support our program in the city of Simpsonville that signed up to play in our program,” — Robbie Davis, Parks and Recreation (paraphrased from Davis’s comments).

“It's a beautiful park… but the public is asking for a fence,” — Council member O'Shea (paraphrased).