Talk of the Town Fall 2019
From the Mayor’s Desk
Dear Friends,
Fall is here and that means tons of community activities will start to pop up on the regular around the City. We are actively working on creating spaces and events that are community focused on family and fun and will continue through the holiday season.
We are also going digital! Our goal is too clearly and regularly communicate city information to you in real-time. Going forward, we will have a digital, city-wide newsletter sent to your email. Please go to TravelersRestSC.com immediately to sign up for Talk of the Town emails. This is the best way to stay informed and involved in local events and happenings. You’ll also find our Downtown Master Plan guide on our website. This is a valuable tool we use in local government to prioritize goals for the city and plan for growth. Many thanks to the over 2,000 people who, completed the Online survey or attended one of the charrettes and gave input for this plan. While there are always outliers, the majority of those who responded to our survey had a similar voice and that is clearly communicated in a plan for the future. Lastly, a reminder that City Council elections are coming up in November. Travelers Rest continues to focus on healthy and sustainable growth and we need to hear from you. We are so proud to live in such a caring and thriving community. We appreciate all the parts you play on a daily basis to make TR one of the best small towns in the South!
Mayor Brandy Amidon
Brandy@TravelersRestSC.com
A New Website for the City of Travelers Rest
The City of Travelers Rest is pleased to announce the launch of its newly designed website, www.TravelersRestSC.com. The completely revamped website features bold imagery, a simplified design, and improved functionality. The most exciting addition to the website is Visit TR, a section dedicated to tourism, where visitors can find a full directory of shops, restaurants and lodging options. An events calendar, a things to do section, scenic drives and day trips, and listings of nearby attractions add to the content. A content-rich web page within Visit TR is dedicated to the Prisma Health, Swamp Rabbit Trail with links to an interactive trail map and points of interest along the trail.
“We are thrilled to debut a new website to our community members and potential visitors,” said City Administrator, Eric Vinson. “This website redesign is stunning and informative. It will give visitors a great experience that will make them excited to visit and be a part of Downtown Travelers Rest.”
Residents will be pleased to see a section of the website dedicated to them. Content includes links to city services such as waste collection and recycling, city departments, event listings, City Council meeting schedules, city plans and projects and an online form to report a concern.
A portion of the website is dedicated to the history of Travelers Rest. A gallery of photos takes visitors on a visual journey through our town’s history, and editorial contributions from the Travelers Rest Historical Society tell the story of how our town came to be what it is today.
From the homepage, visitors can access The Buzz, a three-part section that includes; Great Stories, a collection of articles from local editors; TR in the News, links to magazine articles featuring Travelers Rest; and Talk of the Town, the City’s official newsletter. In addition to the website, digital and print communication channels and opportunities are being evaluated and social media platforms considered.
A printed visitor’s guide will be developed in early spring. Residents and visitors are encouraged to use the hashtag, #ItStartsWithTR to help us share our town’s great stories and our love for this community. The new website will be regularly updated with Downtown events, city news, and special interest content. Visitors are encouraged to explore the website and sign up for Talk of the Town, the City’s official newsletter.
New Wayfinding Signage Enhances City and Eases Navigation
The City of Travelers Rest has begun updating the city’s existing wayfinding signage system to include several important projects completed over
the past several years, including the relocation of City Hall. The wayfinding signs are designed and placed to provide an intuitive and visitor-friendly directional signage to major destinations throughout the City and surrounding community. The intended benefits of the wayfinding program include promoting our downtown and amenities such as Trailblazer Park, improving visitors’ safety and overall experience, improving the flow of traffic in the city, identifying significant points of interest, and reducing sign clutter.
“This project was initiated in 2018 as we neared completion of the City Hall project and was partially funded by a State Accommodations Tax Grant.”, said Eric Vinson, City Administrator. “Many city amenities including the new City Hall did not exist when the original wayfinding system was installed. This provided us an opportunity to not only update, but improve our wayfinding signs.” “We are very excited to see the completion of this project,” said Vinson.
The new signs include consistent artwork, more attractive decorative posts to compliment the charm of downtown, and an individual sign panel system enabling easy, cost-effective modifications as future points of interest change. The wayfinding sign project included the removal of five existing signs, the replacement of twelve existing signs with updated content, and the placement of eight new signs. Altogether, the updated wayfinding system includes the installation of twenty new signs.
GCRA Home Owner Repairs Program
Are you a homeowner in Travelers Rest in need of help with home repairs? The Greenville County Redevelopment Authority (GCRA) and Rebuild Upstate, a nonprofit, that helps repair homes for seniors, disabled homeowners, and low-income families, is accepting applications.
You Can Get Help With:
Roof repairs, wheelchair ramps, safety railings and, grab bars and limited bathroom repairs.
To learn more, please contact Rebuild Upstate directly via their Help Line at 864.603.2708 to request assistance. You can also make your request through their Online form by visiting: www.rebuildupstate.org.
Fall Bluegrass & Harvest Market – Thursdays in October, 5pm – 8pm
Join us at Trailblazer Park every Thursday in October for a small town – get to know your neighbors – community event complete with family-style dining and authentic Bluegrass music! The Travelers Rest Farmers Market sets up under the pavilion with vendors selling everything from local produce to handmade artisan products and old-time, bluegrass songs are performed in the open-air amphitheater. A great lineup of food trucks gathers and families sit down to a community-spirited evening for one of the most charming experiences in the Upstate.
Scarecrows on Main – September 28th – October 31st
For the second year, the Gazebo on Main Street and local shops are celebrating fall with a festive display of scarecrows made by local residents and businesses. A month-long voting competition began on Saturday, September 28th to find the people’s favorite scarecrow. Judges, Debbie Wilson and Kim Easter will choose the Judge’s award winner. Residents and visitors can vote for their favorite scarecrow by visiting participating shops in town. Shops can be located by looking for the big orange pumpkin in the window.
Scarecrows will be on display until October 31st and contest winners will be announced on our Facebook page on Monday, October 28th.
Downtown Trick-or-Treating – Saturday, October 26, 2019 – 1pm – 3pm
Join us for this free event to celebrate Halloween on Main Street in downtown Travelers Rest. Nearly 20 downtown businesses will open their doors and hand out candy to the wizards, superheroes, and princesses flying, dashing and strolling downtown. There will be spooky activities, creepy decorations, and festive refreshments.
FREE FACE PAINTING – Bring the kids and finish off their costumes with our face painters located in the Gazebo on Main Street.
Other activities include Pumpkin Corn Hole and Haloween Tic-Tac-Toe.
Small Business Saturday – Saturday, November 30th
Not a fan of the hecticness of Black Friday? Small Business Saturday is the perfect alternative. Strategically placed between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday occurs on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year, it falls on November 30th.
Many small businesses will be offering discounts and deals throughout the day. The usual rowdy crowds that tend to play out at national chains on Black Friday aren’t typical of the local shop small experience. This is an event everyone can feel good about participating in. It’s a great way to support small businesses in town and find unique gifts for everyone on your list, all while enjoying the best in personalized customer service. When everyone makes a small effort, together we can make a big impact on the health of our Downtown businesses.
FREE SHOPPING BAG GIVEAWAY – Get a lovely canvas shopping bag to fill up with gifts while you tote it around town. Participating shops will be giving away sturdy shopping bags to ten customers lucky customers. A list of shops will be posted soon.
Christmas in the Park – Friday, December 6, 2019 – 5pm – 7pm
We invite you to join us in Trailblazer Park for our annual Christmas in the Park celebration. Bring the kids for a FREE ride on the Polar Express Train and enjoy a free cup of hot chocolate and cookies. Santa will be in the pavilion ready for photos and there will be festive music, Christmas caroling and food trucks on hand. This holiday event is the perfect time to kick off your holiday!
A special Thank You to the Greater Travelers Rest Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring this beloved, annual event!