CAROLINA FOREST, SC (WBTW) – The Carolina Forest Recreation Center is among 30 public parks and rec centers in Horry County that could close down due to the financial status of the Parks and Recreation Department.
During a budget retreat last week, the Parks and Rec Department told council it needs an additional $3 million in funding to keep up with growth, or many of its current services, rec centers, and county employees will be at risk.
“We’ve been looking at this problem, seen it looming on the horizon for about three or four years now, since I’ve been on council, knowing that we were coming to a crossroads at some point in time,” Councilman Johnny Vaught said.
If the department cannot get the funding, the Carolina Forest Rec Center will be one of the first buildings to close down; maintenance for the county’s boat landings and public parks would stop.
Vaught says this would have a huge impact on the community, especially children.
“We’ve already had comments from the sheriff’s department and the police department saying what are you going to do with if you turn two or 300 kids loose on the streets again? They’re going to be in trouble. These recreation centers give them purpose, give them organized sports to play; it gives them structure,” Vaught said.
Vaught does not want to raise taxes to fund Parks and Rec, which could cost the average resident an extra $28.
Instead, he says the county wants to find alternative ways to fund the department, like marketing its rec centers to traveling sports teams.
“It’s a big impact on the economy to have those kinds of tournaments, so I think we’re really missing the boat by not marketing ourselves as a sports and recreation tourism center,” Vaught said.
Regardless of how Horry County finds the funding, Vaught says it needs to be done.
“It’s so far-reaching, the impact of the rec center, so we’ve got to do something to save it.”
Vaught says a committee will meet to come up with ideas for council on how to get the needed funds. Council has until May before needing to approve the final budget for the next fiscal year.
At an Horry County infrastructure and regulation meeting on Tuesday, officials said the current funding only gets them until June 30, and after that, they would have to start making position cuts and closing certain facilities.
