More than one out of every five dollars in Greenville’s proposed $31.7 million capital improvement plan for next year would go to Unity Park.
The Greenville City Council is expected to give initial approval to the spending plan on April 8. Final approval is expected on May 13, the same day the city will approve its operating budget for 2019-20.
The proposal earmarks $2 million of tourism-generated taxes to repay bonds the city is expected to issue for construction of the new park on the west side of Greenville. It would be the first of 20 years of repayment.
Groundbreaking for the park is expected in the spring. The first phase of the park is nearly $41.2 million. Some of the park could open in 2021. Future phases could include an observation tower, wetland restoration, and a nature area.
The other $5 million earmarked for the park will pay for improvements to the Reedy River. The money will come from stormwater fees.
If the current version of the CIP is adopted, the city will also pay to replace Main Street lighting, draft final plans for a cultural corridor urban trail that would connect Heritage Green with Main Street, start putting back money to replace the Stone Avenue fire station, and assess the condition of all city facilities.
The CIP also includes money for affordable housing and to replace parking garage equipment in all of its garages. The new equipment will eventually allow motorists to reserve spots in the city’s garages and pay using license plate recognition software.
In addition, the plan includes $1 million each for new sidewalks and street repaving.
Of the budget, nearly six out of every 10 dollars will go for infrastructure improvements. Economic development accounts for 18 percent of the expenditures, while parks and recreation and public safety account for 12 percent each.
Money to fund the capital improvement plan comes from five pots: general fund generated from property taxes and business licenses, tax-increment-financing funds that come from property taxes generated from specific areas of the city, tourism funds that come from hospitality taxes on prepared meals and accommodations taxes on overnight lodging, utility and parking funds that come from fees and must be spent primarily on the activity that generated the revenue, and capital improvement fund money that comes from money not spent on completed projects and interest earned on money not yet spent.
Where the money will go
Parks and Recreation, $3.7 million
Greenways and trails, $1 million
Main Street tree rehabilitation, $75,000
Neighborhood park improvements, $501,078
Swamp Rabbit Trail bridge maintenance, $120,000
Unity Park (construction financing), $2 million
Economic Development, $5.25 million
Art in Public Places, $75,000
Commercial corridors, $500,000
Economic development project account, $2.15 million
Economic development project account – Viola, $220,740
Fluor Field maintenance, $150,000
Fluor Field stadium improvements, $1.1 million
Greenville Convention Center FF&E, $500,000
Corporate office recruitment strategy, $250,000
S.C. Children’s Theatre headquarters, $300,000
Roads and Bridges, $3.75 million
Bridge maintenance, $200,000
Intersection improvements, $400,000
Main Street bridge repairs, $750,000
McDaniel/Cleveland Park area improvements, $100,000
New sidewalks, $1 million
Salters Road realignment, $100,000
Sidewalk accessibility improvements, $200,000
Street resurfacing, $1 million
Streetscapes, $900,000
Village of West Greenville improvements, $100,000
Cultural Corridor Urban Trail, $500,000
Main Street lighting replacement, $200,000
Street lighting maintenance and upgrades, $100,000
Wastewater, $2.8 million
Sewer basin rehabilitation, $2.8 million
Public Safety, $3.89 million
Fire Station improvements, $433,041
Police administration facility lease and upfit, $800,000
Police body cameras, $219,432
Public safety cameras and infrastructure, $200,000
Public safety dispatch consoles, $225,000
Public safety radios, $700,000
Stone Avenue Fire Station replacement, $1 million
Traffic signal communication upgrades, $315,000
Parking, $3.95 million
Parking garage rehabilitation, $1.25 million
Parking garage control equipment, $2.7 million
Stormwater, $6.58 million
Culvert level of service improvements, $1.15 million
Stormwater asset management and modeling, $425,000
Unity Park stormwater improvements, $5 million
General government, $935,000
Affordable housing, $500,000
City Hall improvements, $110,000
City facilities assessment, $325,000
Total $31.7 million
