Construction projects underway and planned in city and county of Sumter

Sumter is building. That's no secret.

Here are some projects in Sumter County and in the City of Sumter that are either currently under construction or could be under construction soon.

New neighborhood

More than 260 single-family homes might be coming to the City of Sumter on Beckwood Road not very far from Sumter Airport.

Sumter City-County Planning Commission unanimously approved a request on Feb. 28 that allows the developer, Wilder Land Development, to move forward in the process to build 166 single-family detached units and 96 single-family attached units in the area of 1855 Beckwood Road in city limits.

The 140.56 acres of land are currently undeveloped and in city councilman Anthony Gibson's Ward 1.

The proposed name of the development, according to public documents, is Beckwood Estates.

Major subdivision approvals, such as this one, stop with planning commission, so this item will not show up on any other agendas.

The developer wants to build in five phases, with between 42 and 61 lots being built in each phase.

Parks

The South Sumter Park revitalization project is about to be underway.

The park is at 630 S. Sumter St., and as it stands today, there are basketball courts, a playground area, a splash pad and lots of grassy areas.

Revitalization plans, however, include a pickleball court, new playground equipment, restrooms, a pavilion and sidewalks. The basketball courts will also be replaced, and there is a possible phase two of the project city officials are still working on that may put an airnasium over the new basketball courts so they are covered.

JF Contractors of Sumter is doing the job for $1,747,925, according to public documents.

The city is paying for the revitalization out of a state appropriation, or grant, that it was awarded specifically for the project thanks to Rep. J. David Weeks, D-Sumter. There are also private contributions helping to pay for the project.

Construction should be completed about October of this year, officials say.

This park project is one of three South Sumter park projects city officials are working on.

Construction has begun on the South Sumter Art Park on the corner of Orange Street and Manning Avenue where the former Sumter County Sheriff's Office substation used to be.

Upon completion, there will be two basketball courts, an art-themed playground, bathrooms, parking and a wall for various creative installations.

And recently, the city announced plans for an African American history-themed park to be built at 341 Manning Ave. and 8 E. Fulton St., not far from Bostick Tompkins Funeral Home of Sumter.

There are not a lot of details available on it, but that project, as well as the South Sumter Art Park project and the South Sumter Park revitalization, were made possible by state grants.

Tropical Smoothie

A Tropical Smoothie Café is coming to Sumter this year.

A commercial building permit was filed with Sumter Building Department late last year for its construction.

The long-vacant Checkers Drive-In burger restaurant at 1293 Broad St. in front of Walmart Supercenter was demolished last year. The marquee sign outside the drive-in has read "Closed for remodeling" for a few years. Once the smoothie joint is constructed, the address will be 1301 Broad St., according to the permit.

The Sumter Item has reached out to Tropical Smoothie's corporate office and requested information on an official opening date and renderings of what the café will look like.

The nearest Tropical Smoothie currently open is in Columbia, but there are franchises across the country offering healthy food options including smoothies, of course, salads, wraps, flatbreads, their own version of a quesadilla and kid-friendly items.