You made it happen: Rock Hill will be featured in national magazine

More than 1,600 Facebook users voted last week to put Rock Hill on the front cover of a national magazine.

Rock Hill’s Parks and Recreation Department entered a a Facebook “like” photo contest hosted by the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) magazine. The photo they entered showed several steely-faced BMX athletes racing at the city’s BMX Supercross track.

Rock Hill’s photo was the overwhelming winner, taking the prize with nearly double the “likes” as its closest competitor from Glendale Heights, Ill.

The photo now will be placed on the July front cover of the NRPA magazine, with the chance to promote the city’s upcoming 2017 UCI BMX World Championships from July 25-30.

The contest ran until May 26.

City officials believe the BMX event will be the largest international sporting event in South Carolina history. More than 20,000 fans are expected to flock to York County, along with some 3,300 athletes.

“Facebook voters were challenged by photos showing great parks and events across the country, so the citizens of all these communities are winners, too,” said Rock Hill Mayor Doug Echols. “We look forward to seeing the cover photo during the month that we welcome the 2017 UCI BMX World Championships to Rock Hill.”

This story was originally published May 30, 2017 at 3:49 PM with the headline "You made it happen: Rock Hill will be featured in national magazine."