Healthy Lifestyle is Easy Choice in Florence
Published Oct 17, 2007
Canoeing and kayaking are popular at Lynches River County Park.
When the Environmental Discovery Center opens in February 2007, Florence area residents and visitors will have yet another reason to venture outside and get moving.
The $900,000 project, funded with a combination of grants and donations, will feature a hands-on science center, a treetop canopy walk and a nature exchange.
According to Joe Eason, director of parks and recreation for Florence County, the Environmental Discovery Center complements the many existinga recreation options while adding an exciting new twist for nature enthusiasts.
“It’s going to be like nothing we’ve seen in this area. It’s just one more reason for tourists and residents to get outside and enjoy everything Florence has to offer,” says Eason, who is also a member of the Florence Area Sports Council, which oversees participatory sports events and recreational activities.
The Environmental Discovery Center will be a primary attraction at the 676-acre Lynches River County Park, which also offers walking trails, a picnic area, playground, outdoor shelters and a handicapped-accessible canoe launch.
In the city of Florence, residents have access to more than 40 parks and ball fields. They include the 126-acre Freedom Florence Recreation Complex, which features nine championship softball fields, four multipurpose fields, a gymnastics center, walking trails and a small lake; and Timrod Park, where more than 14 lighted tennis courts are popular attractions.
At McLeod Health and Fitness Center, the region’s only medically based health and wellness center, exercise enthusiasts enjoy traditional health club amenities as well as a computerized FitLinxx Interactive Fitness Network, a café and a full-service day spa.
“Part of our commitment is to enhance economic progress and growth through our dedication to wellness and fostering positive lifestyles,” says Bobby Shaw, executive director of the center, which covers more than 100,000 square feet of space.
Other mainstays for active Florentines include the YMCA, Fitness Forum, Wallace Woods Nature Trail, a rail trail, and more than 30 public, semiprivate and private golf courses in the area.
Story by Valerie Pascoe
Photo by Wes Aldridge
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