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Council accepts $190,000 Undiscovered SC grant to fund William Bartram statue in Retreat Street Park
Summary
Council accepted a $190,000 Undiscovered SC grant for a proposed William Bartram statue and interpretive paneling in Retreat Street Park; staff said no city funds are required for the match now and they expect to raise the $90,000 local match through fundraising and partners.
The Westminster City Council voted to accept a $190,000 Undiscovered South Carolina grant to support installation of a William Bartram statue and related interpretive elements in Retreat Street Park.
Staff described the grant as a 50/50 match (SCPRT grant of $190,000 with an expected $90,000 local/private match). A staff presenter said fundraising would be led by a community volunteer group and that no city funds were being requested at this time: “I’m not asking you to allocate any city funds to this,” the presenter said.
Councilmembers debated historical relevance and tourism value. One member said Bartram’s travels likely did not pass through Westminster and suggested a monument with local connections might be preferable; another councilmember said the statue could draw regional visitors and provide educational benefits for local schoolchildren.
Staff said the design, fundraising plan and historical panels will be developed with local volunteers and historical advisors if the council accepted the grant. Council voted to accept the grant with the expectation that the local match will be raised and design vetted for historical accuracy.
