July 2025 Council Highlights

• The City of Sumter is proud to announce the Serve First Open, an ATP Challenger 125 tournament, coming to the Palmetto Tennis Center from August 11–17, 2025—marking the most prestigious international sports tourism event the city has ever hosted.
  • As part of the second-highest tier of professional men’s tennis, the ATP Tour brings some of the top-ranked players in the world to compete just days before the US Open. This tournament serves as a pivotal warm-up for Grand Slam contenders and will thrust Sumter into the global tennis spotlight.
  • More information, including player announcements and match details, will be available soon at www.ServeFirstOpen.com.

• Since December 2024, the City of Sumter has opened or made significant renovations to six different recreation facilities! They include:
  • South Sumter Park
    • Reopened on June 10 following major renovations.
    • Features:
      • Two full-size basketball courts, Open-air “airnasium”, Pickleball courts, Age-specific playground equipment, New pavilion & restrooms, Improved parking & walking trail, and the Splash pad & indoor gymnasium remains.
  • Prisma Health Shot Pouch Greenway
    • Was renamed in partnership with Prisma Health
    • New Swan Lake Trailhead completed with a paved parking lot on the North side of the Gardens.
  • South Sumter Art Park
    • Opened on Manning Ave in December 2024
    • Special thanks given to David Weeks and the South Carolina Arts Commission.
  • Bill Pinkney Park
    • Is another great addition to the reviving cultural and art scene on Manning Ave
    • Worked with Representative David Weks and the Pinkney family to move his bust and signage from the Dalzell area to South Sumter and honor the former member of the famed group, “The Drifters.”
  • Memorial Park Playground
    • Newly opened in Sumter’s Historic District
    • This is part of a phase of improvements taking place at Memorial Park, which includes the gazebo and restrooms.
  • Philip L. Edwards Tennis Complex
    • This state-of-the-art facility, featuring authentic German red clay courts designed to meet international standards, offers players a unique and high-quality experience.
    • Court fees are structured

    • For more information or to reserve your court, please visit sumtertennis.com or contact us at (803) 774-3969.

       

• Construction for phase two of the Tuskegee Monument is underway!
  • This second phase will include a life-size bronze sculpture of a Tuskegee Airman 

  • Also being constructed are story walls that highlight the contributions of South Carolina residents who served in various Tuskegee units.

     

• Also announced recently were the plans for the upcoming Sister Wimberly Playground
  • Renovations are planned for the Swan Lake playground and children’s area.
  • This area will be renamed in honor of Sister Heath Wimberly for her community impact.

  • Sister Wimberly was an original founder of the Friends of Swan Lake Gardens and has spent her life dedicated to the care and beauty of Swan Lake.

     

• Construction is underway for the Joseph T. McElveen, Jr. Park
  • Announced to honor former Mayor McElveen’s 20 years of service.

  • Will be located off Broad Street near the Greenway.

     

• Hurricane season officially began on June 1;
  • Stay prepared all season long with the 2025 South Carolina Hurricane Guide
    • This online booklet and other useful tools can be found at hurricane.sc
    • Remember that early preparation can make all the difference in staying safe.
• We are pleased to announce the upcoming expansion of Water Plant 5, located right off of Wesmark Blvd.
  • This is a major City of Sumter infrastructure improvement project set to be completed by mid-2027.
    • This project will enhance water supply reliability and capacity for our entire community.
    • While brief service interruptions or temporary discoloration may occur, please be assured that we are committed to minimizing disruptions and maintaining the highest standards of safety and efficiency for all customers. 

• We’re continuing to remind our city roll cart customers to place their Handles toward the House!
  • Because of our new side-loading trucks, we have changed the way roll carts need to be placed.
  • If you have one of our new cans or an older one, your handle goes towards the house. 

  • When in Doubt, Remember: #HandlesTowardTheHouse

     

• The City of Sumter and SUATS—the Sumter Area Transportation Study are bringing significant safety upgrades and improvements on Bultman/Guignard Drive.
  • This project is part of the South Carolina Department of Transportation’s (SCDOT) 2025 Pavement Improvement Program.
    • By the end of 2026, a 3.17-mile stretch from Broad to Neely will be repaved—plus new safety features, including:

      • Brighter crosswalks, Clearer Lane markings, Concrete medians, and Flashing pedestrian signals at Wactor and Oxford.

         

• The next Fourth Friday Concert Series event will take place on July 25th

  • Taking place from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM at 141 N Main Street, in front of the Sumter County Courthouse. 

    • This FREE event features live music by United Sound Entertainment, along with food trucks, cold beverages from Sertoma, and free books for kids courtesy of the Palmetto Optimist Club.
    • Bring your chairs (no coolers, please) and enjoy a lively evening in downtown Sumter.
    • Can't make it in June? We have other awesome concerts lined up on August 22 and September 26.

     

We invite you to visit and attend a regular City Council meeting, our meetings are typically held on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Please note that there will be no meeting on the first Tuesday of July. The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, August 5th at 1:00 PM. If you can’t make a meeting public comments may also be submitted online anytime through our website at sumtersc.gov/council/meetings or city residents can contact the Mayor or their Council representative any time before any meeting to discuss a concern or idea.