Langley Pond Park a County 'jewel' 12/10/2009 8:27 PM
By HALEY HUGHES Staff writer
Several Aiken County officials, Aiken Land Conservancy representatives and members of the legislative delegation called Langley Pond Park a "jewel" in Aiken County's crown Thursday as they cut the ribbon on the park's 406-acre expansion.
The County now owns the 285-acre pond and the shoreline strip, and the Aiken Land Conservancy (ALC) retains 64 acres of what has been termed the "upland" portion.
Sun gleamed on the pond's water as several spoke about the journey that led up to that moment, a journey that started in the 1980s when the County began talking with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) about the state of the pond.
Aiken County Councilwoman LaWana McKenzie swam in the pond as a child and joked she would come out a different color than when she jumped in since the surrounding mills would dump chemicals and waste into the pond before such actions were illegalized.
Residents and County officials were concerned and asked SCDHEC what could be done. SCDHEC advised the pond would clean itself.
"God has a way of taking care of nature and he's done that with Langley Pond," McKenzie said.
The pond did clean itself and, after years of only just leasing the property from the owner, the County began negotiating the sale about four years ago.
The details were finalized and the sale price settled on at $1.5 million.
"This is another great day for Aiken County," said Council Chairman Ronnie Young. "This is another opportunity for progress and for us to shine a little bit."
Many praised Assistant County Administrator Brian Sanders who, when he was director of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, started the negotiation process. They said he never gave up.
Even former national team coach Igor Grinko, who lived in Augusta and coached sculling on Langley Pond until 2004, was present at the ceremony. Grinko is now the head coach for the Chinese Olympic Rowing Team.
He said one of Langley Pond's best assets is that rowers can train year round because the pond rarely freezes over.
The County is working on plans to develop active recreation capabilities on the shoreline, which could include a grandstand viewing area and additional parking designed to attract larger rowing and sculling races throughout the year.
The ALC portion will be left forested for passive recreation.
The South Carolina Conservation Bank approved $649,000 to help ALC with the purchase.
"This is just the beginning," said George Fry, director of development with the Augusta Rowing Club. "This opens the door for national events, which will bring money into the CSRA. We all benefit when you've got a jewel like this."
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Posted by: On: Saturday, December 12, 2009 1:20 AM
Comment Title: Aikenite spent time in the Valley
I spent four years working in the Graniteville Mills before SRS. I have fond memories of working with such strong people. Never perfect like all of us. And I know many more snooty 'rats' that live in Aiken.
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Posted by: lynn On: Friday, December 11, 2009 4:33 PM
Comment Title:
the valley rats will kick your a**
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Posted by: On: Friday, December 11, 2009 1:21 PM
Comment Title:
finally, a place for Valley Rats to take a bath. It is about time.
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Posted by: On: Friday, December 11, 2009 12:13 PM
Comment Title: 1.5 Million Are you crazy!!!
They can spend 1.5 million, but cannot give county employees a raise knowing how the economy is and people are already struggling!!!! What a JOKE !!!!
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Posted by: The Baron On: Friday, December 11, 2009 10:52 AM
Comment Title:
"God has a way of taking care of nature and he's done that with Langley Pond," McKenzie said." - these people are delusional if they think God has done anything to Langley Pond.
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Posted by: On: Friday, December 11, 2009 12:53 AM
Comment Title: Langley Pond a True Treasure
It is nice to see something special completed for our community. If you have never been to Langley Pond. go, look, and enjoy. It has rich and successful revitalization history after the dumping of chemicals by the cotton mills.
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