West Columbia wants to improve its welcome mat along the river. Here’s what $2M+ could do

The first area that many people experience when they visit West Columbia could see some major improvements, with multiple millions of dollars worth of projects on tap to overhaul the city’s main river access point and improve infrastructure in one of its historic neighborhoods.

An earmark set aside in a proposed state budget would throw $2 million toward water infrastructure and walkability improvements in the historic Mill Village, the longtime neighborhood along the banks of the Congaree River that lies next to the city’s increasingly bustling River District, centered on the intersection of State and Meeting streets, just across the bridge from downtown Columbia.

Another $650,000 in state funds could be set aside for improving river access at the West Columbia Riverwalk Amphitheater, which sits next to the Mill Village, the Brookland development and the Gervais Street Bridge. The popular put-in and take-out point is frequently used by tubers, kayakers and others looking to have fun on the river.

“The crown jewel of the Midlands is the Congaree River that flows through the middle of it,” West Columbia Mayor Tem Miles said. “And I think one of the greatest quality of life things that we have here is being able to access the river, so anything that we can do to expand folks ability to get out and enjoy and take part in the wonderful nature and river that we have right here in the middle of this setting, I think it’s a crucial thing for quality of life for everybody here. So I’m really glad the state is supporting that mission.”

The planned upgrades to the river access point at the amphitheater are considerable, including the addition of a 20-foot concrete launch pad with a non-slip surface to “provide a safer and easier entry and exit point,” according to the city. The state earmark would also add an adjoining concrete landing area to afford “additional room for maneuvering equipment and unloading gear,” along with large rocks placed out in the water to block debris and slow down the flow at the access point to allow people to more easily get in and out of the river.

An art installation would also be added to the existing staircase to make it more attractive.

The river access at the amphitheater is central to the business of Palmetto Outdoor, which offers equipment and shuttle services for people to ride the river, starting at the access point along the Saluda Riverwalk near Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia and ending at the West Columbia take-out.

The company’s owner, Mike Mayo, said that making things as easy as possible for his guests goes a long way in shaping both their impression of his business and ofWest Columbia. He pointed to the recent addition of outdoor showers at the amphitheater as something that makes river users more likely to get out and enjoy themselves in the city after they get off the water. The proposed improvements, he said, will further enhance their experience.

“When they get to the take-out, that’s not the end of their adventure,” he said. “It’s just the beginning. And this is a great opportunity for West Columbia, to showcase the city and basically lay out the welcoming mat in the form of an improved access. It’s easy to get off the water, and the customer is now able to kind of kick back and basically see West Columbia. And so I see the take-out as not an end of their trip, but just the beginning of their adventure into West Columbia.”

Miles echoed this sentiment, and like Mayo, he emphasized that these improvements are necessary to match the upgrades recently made to the access at the Saluda Riverwalk, where the city of Columbia has added well-appointed steps leading down to the river in place of what was previously a rough dirt path.

“The city of Columbia and Richland County has done so much to make gaining entry into the river so much easier by putting their entry point and over on the other side,” the mayor said. “We just feel it’s important to have an equally convenient, safe point for folks to leave the river as well.”

Taking care of the neighbors

The river access improvements would be another addition to the amenities and businesses that are making West Columbia’s River District a desirable place to be. In the last half decade, the city has added a weekly market and an Interactive Art Park behind the 100 block of State Street and renovated Carraway Park, across the street from the amphitheater, with an inclusive play park for kids.

A variety of dining and nightlife destinations have moved to the area in that five-year span, with the district now offering options such as Black Rooster, Cafe Strudel, Terra, Another Broken Egg Cafe, D’s Wings and Savage Craft Ale Works.

But while all this should make it more enticing to live in one of the historic homes in the adjoining Mill Village, Miles noted that the city hasn’t kept up with the area’s infrastructure needs.

“I estimate that maybe a quarter or a third of the homes in the Mill Hill have been very substantially redone,” he said. “But it doesn’t make sense for folks to put a whole lot into their home when they’re still gonna be suffering from these bad road conditions, water issues, drainage issues, and those are systemic things that individual homeowners just just can’t address on their own.”

The proposed improvements in the neighborhood would look to address these issues.

The project would bring water infrastructure improvements:

• Installing over 12,000 feet of new water mains

• Replacing 145 water service lines to individual properties

• Installing 20 new fire hydrants

Along with pedestrian accessibility enhancements:

• Expanding the sidewalk network throughout the Mill Village, which the city described as “ensuring accessibility for all residents, and creating a safe and inclusive environment for walking, jogging, and cycling”

• Improving pedestrian connections to “make it easier to reach local businesses and amenities”

• Establishing “a seamless connection to the 3 Rivers Greenway ... via Alexander Rd, providing direct access to miles of trails”

“By doing these and having them fixed for the entire area, it will encourage more money from private investment to come into those homes, not to tear them down but to fix them up, which will increase the desirability and livability of that entire neighborhood,” Miles said.

State Rep. Micah Caskey, R-Lexington, who represents West Columbia, saw similar benefits from the proposed state budget earmarks for the River District.

“I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to keep these investments in the state budget,” he said. “Expanding recreational access to our rivers is good not only for West Columbia, but for helping the entire region grow. Cities like Richmond and Cincinnati have proven that riverfront developments are an amazing tool for raising the quality of life for everyone.”