‘Gold standard for cities’: S.C. Sen. Lindsey Graham visits Rock Hill sports center
In the mind of a U.S. Senator from South Carolina, Rock Hill has the “gold standard for cities” in its new recreation and sports complex.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) toured the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center Monday. He was joined by Rock Hill Mayor John Gettys and city manager David Vehaun.
The center is already being used, but a grand opening will be 6 p.m. March 19 for the 170,000-square-foot facility at 326 Technology Center Way.
Graham saw the center’s multiple courts along with the walking track and multi-purpose room, which can be used as event space.
“My first thought was it took my breath away,” Graham said. “I can’t believe an old textile mill was turned into something like this. You see a lot of the remnants of the textile industry being transformed into something new and different for the community.”
The center hosts youth and adult athletics, tournaments and event rentals. The facility also is home to The White Horse restaurant and has space for future development.
“I have never seen anything like this,” Graham told Gettys.
Gettys replied, “We believe it’s something special.”
Graham said the facility is in part thanks to U.S. Sen. Tim Scott’s opportunity zones program, which provides tax incentives to help develop areas struggling economically. Much of downtown Rock Hill is included. Scott (R-S.C.) visited the sports center in November.
“This is going to be the gold standard I think for community development in this sports area,” Graham said.
Graham said the $26 million Rock Hill facility is representative of the growth and revitalization the area has seen in recent years.
“A lot of cities are dying downtown. This place is exploding,” he said.
Graham has an office in Rock Hill.
“I just want to be part of something big and exciting,” he said. “I represent the federal government. It’s usually in the way; I try to keep it out of the way and leverage my position as a senator to bring some value to the table. The community’s leading and I’m following and that’s the way it should be.”
This story was originally published March 2, 2020 at 4:17 PM.
