The Town of Chapin has received a Municipal Achievement Award for the Chapin Art Trail. The city won in the 1,001 – 5,000 population category. Twenty-six cities and towns submitted their projects and initiatives for consideration in the annual awards.
The Town of Chapin is growing, buoyed by its small-town character and access to Lake Murray. Because of its relatively recent development, however, the town has struggled to establish an identity as a destination with its own recreation, dining and shopping opportunities. The town therefore partnered with the Crooked Creek Art League, a nonprofit group with more than 100 artists, to establish “The Arts Sail Into Chapin,” a trail of installations highlighting the area’s arts scene and its lakefront communities.
The effort kicked off at the 2019 Chapin Labor Day Festival with 13 aluminum sailboat displays, creatively painted and embellished by local artists. The project also features the Town of Chapin Nature Park, developed by the South Carolina Wildlife Foundation. This 17-acre park and designated wildlife sanctuary surrounds Chapin Town Hall and includes a pollinator garden and a walking trail with artistic trail markers.
Funding support for the projects came from the Greater Chapin Community Foundation, event sponsorships and private donations, along with grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the South Carolina Arts Commission, Dominion Energy and the SC Wildlife Association. Many of the same partners have come together to commission a community mural to highlight Chapin’s history and landmarks.
“The current and future efforts of the Chapin Art Trail are creating a stronger sense of place, community and purpose in Chapin,” said Todd Glover, executive director for the Municipal Association.
These winning entries represent innovative projects undertaken by Municipal Association member cities and towns. Information and a video about the project are available on the Association’s website www.masc.sc (keyword: Achievement Awards).
The Municipal Association of SC initiated the Achievement Awards in 1987 to recognize and encourage innovations and excellence in local government.
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