Woodruff Residents Debate the Future of Their Hometown
Asked on Facebook what new event or activity they'd like to see, residents called for Main Street festivals, more for kids and teens, historic preservation and better recreation, and debated growth.
The Woodruff Times asked on its Facebook page what new event or activity residents would like to see in Woodruff. The paper reports that the question drew a flood of ideas and some spirited debate.
The most common requests were family-friendly gatherings: a Main Street festival with the road closed, food trucks and local vendors, and places for kids and teens such as a bowling alley, skating rink, trampoline park or movie theater. Some residents also asked for restored recreation: pickleball and more at the Woodruff Leisure Center, youth softball and baseball fields, and new uses for the old Abney Gym and tennis courts.
Growth divided commenters. Some worried that new housing, traffic and calls for big-box stores would change the small-town character. Others replied that a town must grow. Many regretted lost landmarks, including the old Workman Hospital, Mills Mill and the original Northside School, along with the condition of the Timrod Library. Others raised road conditions and city leadership.
City Manager Lee Bailey told the paper that leaders take note of residents' feedback and that some ideas are more feasible than others. The full story is at The Woodruff Times.