Public welcome to Back Street Park dedication Friday a.m.

Nov. 5, 2020

Laurens, S.C.  – The City of Laurens’ new Back Street Park will be officially open for the public this Friday, Nov. 6, during an 11 a.m. dedication ceremony.

The park is at the corner of East Main Street and Highway 221 at the entrance of Historic Downtown Laurens.

The park was first put into place under former Mayor Sharon Brownlee and Laurens City Council after a large abandoned and condemned building was removed by the city in 2014. More recently, after discussions with Laurens City Council about the need to preserve the legacy and history of Back Street, Mayor Nathan Senn found more funding and the plans for an expanded Back Street Park began to take shape. 

A plaque naming many of the original entrepreneurs and business owners will be unveiled at the ceremony. 

A Parks and Recreation Development grant through the state Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism covered the majority of the funding needed for the park, and the city’s 20 percent match using tourism-related hospitality tax funds completed most of the project. The Commission of Public Works donated the gas lanterns and covered the installation costs and private donors have also contributed.

In addition, a fountain first donated to the city in 1911 and long since in storage should be up and running in time for the dedication ceremony.

The public is welcome to attend the dedication ceremony.