Let's begin with the media coverage provided for this park project, at the links below. (You may copy the media links and view the coverage later)

(May take a couple of minutes to upload)

*TV 13 News Coverage:

http://wbtw.com/2017/02/22/community-wants-help-to-reconstruct-timmonsville-park-plagued-by-crime/

*TV 15 News Coverage:

http://wpde.com/news/local/edgar-simon-jr-wants-timmonsville-park-to-be-beacon-of-hope-to-the-town

*Florence Morning News Coverage:

Headline reads:

www.scnow.com (once on the site, search on "Timmonsville Park" to read the full article)

Petition Introduction

The Timmonsville park project has shifted away from being a grassroots effort to obtain a Town park to one of having Florence County provide the adults and children of Timmonsville, SC a Florence County Park, as it has each of the other towns in Florence County, in need of such a facility.

This is, now, a petition to Florence County Council to approve construction of the Florence County Edgar E. Simon, Sr. Recreation Park/Complex, within the Town of Timmonsville, SC, and that adequate resources be allocated for such purpose.

The Petition submitted to Florence County Council for consideration, during the July 20, 2017, Council meeting, reads:

2015 demographics of Timmonsville, SC

African-American, only – 1,889 (81.4%)

White Americans, only – 376 (16.2%)

Hispanics, only – 29 (1.3%)

Asian, only – 14 (.06%)

While the estimated median household income for SC is $47,238, the estimated median household income for Timmonsville, SC is $26,839. A little more than half for the state.

According to the most recent demographics data available from the Census Bureau, released in December of 2016, Timmonsville has 2,283 population which is the 5th in population out of 10 total in the area. Timmonsville has 822 population density which is the 2nd most of all the places in the area.

Everyone realizes that something must be done to help Timmonsville. The town has experienced significant social and economic decline over the last 30 years, or so. Many current and past residents of Timmonsville have suggested that Timmonsville is not being provided its fair share of resources.

The residents of Timmonsville, young people, in particular, have limited options when it comes to pursuing physical activities that both their minds and bodies need. Unfortunately, this has been the case for a very long time. The children have communicated their frustration, in video, viewed previously by County Council members. Many people in the area feel isolated and lack connections to other community members due to the scarcity of outdoor green space.

Neighborhoods in which people live, learn, work, and play (community vital signs) could be independent social determinants of health, behavior and performance. This applies, particularly, to children who do not have adequate access to recreational facilities.

Parks are such an essential component of a community that it is difficult to imagine a truly livable, sustainable, community without parks, trails, and other recreational resources and the positive changes such parks create for the entire neighborhood.

A Timmonsville town park, located behind the Brockington Street Church of God, was established in 1976. In 1996, the town renamed that park as the Edgar E. Simon, Sr. Memorial Park, in memory of Mr. Edgar E. Simon, Sr.

Mr. Edgar E. Simon, Sr. was a longtime resident of Timmonsville, an exemplary father of 10 children, a model citizen, a person who consistently demonstrated that he cares about people, superintendent of The Brockington Street Church of God for an extended period of time, and who was a person of devout Christian faith. Mr. Simon was also the only electrician in Timmonsville for nearly 3 decades.

The Edgar E. Simon, Sr. Memorial Park has been the primary source of outside recreation, inside Timmonsville, since 1976 (circa). However, the Park falls, dreadfully, short of meeting the current recreation needs of the residents of Timmonsville, and the anticipated town growth plans.

A Florence County park will give the people of Timmonsville an opportunity to experience their neighborhoods in a new way, and will provide that “beacon of hope” which would garner the support and create the momentum for more permanent, long-term, improvements within that community.

Please consider the following benefits to having the new Timmonsville Florence County Park:

1) Opportunity to address the recreation needs of the children of Timmonsville

2) Improvement in the lives of residents of Florence County, in keeping with the mission of the Florence County Council

3) Florence County control of $400-$500,000 improvement to leased property, at "no to little cost"

4) Resulting, positive impact on County attraction of federal funding

5) Positive economic impact on Timmonsville and Florence County

6) Positive impact on public image of both Timmonsville and County

7) Recognition of individual achievements in success of project

8) Same for corporate involvement/contributes

9) Humanitarian value

10) Replacement of a community eye sore in Timmonsville with an attractive recreation park.

Existing Florence County Parks, located within the city limits of towns in Florence County, as provided by Florence County Parks and Recreation, include:

Savannah Grove Community Park (inside Effingham, SC)

Spaulding Heights Community Park

Coward Athletic Park (Lynches River County Park – located inside Coward, SC)

Olanta Athletic Park

Laverne Ard Park in Pamplico

The new Lake City Park

Weatherford Athletic Park

Feedback provided by the residents of Timmonsville (including the kids), local businesses and city officials informed the, current, proposed design of the new Florence County park. However, given what is to be found at the above Florence County parks, this design is expected to be significantly enhanced.

The County Park of Timmonsville will further support the mission of the Florence County Parks and Recreation Department which is to enhance quality of life for all residents of Florence County through programs and facilities that complement the diverse and progressive nature of our community.

We are sure that all members of the Florence County Council will agree with me when I say that neither protocol, politics, personalities, administrative inefficiencies nor personal prejudices, where they might exist, should be permitted to prevent us from addressing a clear, and desperate, need of the adults and children of Timmonsville, SC. We have reason to believe this to be the position of all those elected to represent the interests of the residents of Florence County.

The children of Timmonsville expect Florence County to deliver.

*Please give your hometown a, sorely-needed, hand by signing this petition.

To sign the petition, just enter your information and click on "SIGN PETITION" (to the right of this section)

Please direct all questions and/or other suggestions to:

Edgar Simon, Jr.

Chairman, Timmonsville Oasis Park Committee

Email: [email protected]

******(Please do not make any donations on this petition/site. They will not go toward the park project.