The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism is seeking nearly $186 million to fund extensive renovations and operational upgrades.
Agency Director Duane Parrish described the proposal as a “generational move” designed to modernize the state’s outdoor recreation offerings.
The funding aims to address deferred maintenance, expand infrastructure, and prepare the park system for sustained long-term demand. The request consolidates multiple routine maintenance needs into a single capital injection to bypass lengthy approval processes.
“People will look back 40, 50 years from now and say, ‘I’m really glad we did this,’” Parrish said, as reported by the News From the States on December 3.
The largest portion of the budget, approximately $96 million, is allocated for constructing visitor centers at six upcoming state parks. This tranche would also fund water and sewer system updates and the installation of internet access cables at both new and existing locations.
Another $59 million targets the direct guest experience, including upgrades to cabins, campgrounds, retail shops, and golf courses. A primary focus is updating RV hookups to meet modern power consumption standards.
Many current state park hookups lack the capacity to power appliances like dishwashers, which limits overnight stays. The funding would address these electrical deficiencies and expand sewer access in campgrounds.
The request comes as construction costs continue to rise, complicating development timelines.
The urgency of the request is driven by visitor data, with attendance now estimated between 10 million and 12 million annually, up from 6 million to 7 million a decade ago.
To address capacity issues, the department is also looking to expand parking. At high-traffic locations like Jones Gap State Park, demand often exceeds available space by early morning, necessitating new paved lots and trail connections.
The final $23 million of the proposal is designated for preserving historic structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. This investment would restore lodges and cabins to their original 1930s-era appearance.
Parrish proposed funding the $186 million request using the state’s unspent surpluses. Legislators have approximately $1.7 billion available for one-time expenses in the upcoming budget cycle.