Spartanburg City Council heard passionate public comment Monday night on the proposed Barnet Park redesign, with residents split on changes to the downtown green space. Multiple speakers urged the council to preserve the historic clock tower, citing a petition with 3,000 signatures, while supporters praised the plan for making the park “more accessible for all people.”
The council meeting, held April 13, drew community members from across the city. Chris Mathis advocated for improved maintenance at the city’s dog park, noting the facility has “doubled in size” while its budget has remained at $5,000 annually for 12 years. Brenda Lee Price spoke passionately against renaming South Liberty Street, calling it “the spine of our community” with deep historical roots in Spartanburg’s African American heritage.
Homelessness Initiative Shows Progress
In a major agenda item, the council received a one-year update on the “A Place to Call Home” initiative. The program has helped exit 132 people from homelessness in its first year. Data presented to the council showed at least 3,000 people experience homelessness in Spartanburg County on any given night, with half being children.
The initiative’s workforce expansion, called “Workforce Heroes,” is set to launch in July with a goal of engaging 30 participants by year’s end. The program partners with local employers identified through OneSpartanburg’s talent gap analysis to match people experiencing homelessness with job opportunities.
Council also proclaimed April as both Fair Housing Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month in the city. Data cited during the proclamation noted 340 children in Spartanburg County were involved in substantiated child protective services investigations.
What’s Happening: Quick Q&A
Q: What is the Barnet Park redesign?
A: A proposed renovation of the downtown park that has drawn both support for modernization and opposition from residents wanting to preserve the historic clock tower.
Q: How many people has the homelessness initiative helped?
A: The “A Place to Call Home” initiative has helped 132 people exit homelessness in its first year of operation.
Q: What is the Workforce Heroes program?
A: A new program launching in July 2026 that connects people experiencing homelessness with local job opportunities identified through workforce demand analysis.
