GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA—The vision for the Cancer Survivors Park and the Cancer Survivors Park Alliance began more than 20 years ago, but finding the best location was a challenge.
Then, Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) and Naturaland Trust made 6.8 acres of land available between the bridges for Church and Cleveland streets. Recently, ReWa further invested in the park by donating $50,000 raised through its annual golf tournament.
“ReWa continues to be a vital part of bringing the park into reality,” said Kay Roper, executive director of the Cancer Survivors Park Alliance. “The cleaning and purification of water is what ReWa does, and we bring healing programs to cancer survivors along the banks of the Reedy River.”
The park is celebrating its fifth anniversary since the physical construction of the park began. The concept for the park stemmed from an Upstate high school student’s idea.
ReWa’s financial gift supports programming at the park, which ranges from guided meditation and cooking classes to a quarterly fly-casting class that’s considered a good physical activity for cancer survivors experiencing lymphedema.
Gardens, water features and sculptures can be found in the park, which is inspiring communities around the globe to build their own.
“ReWa is proud to have found a way to contribute to a space where survivors can find healing and hope along one of our community’s most treasured resources,” said Joel Jones, ReWa’s CEO. “We embrace our responsibility to safeguard our water resources, and the Cancer Survivors Park is a gem along the Reedy River that inspires.”
ReWa’s engineering department hosts an annual golf tournament with 144 participants. The 2023 event was the 23rd annual tournament.
Learn more about the Cancer Survivors Park, its history with ReWa and see highlights from ReWa's 2023 Freshwater Freddie Golf Tournament:
ABOUT RENEWABLE WATER RESOURCES (ReWa): Since 1925, Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) has been committed to providing high-quality wastewater treatment services to the Upstate of South Carolina while promoting a cleaner environment, protecting public health and the water quality of Upstate waterways, and developing the necessary sewer infrastructure to sustain our community and growing economy. With nine water resource recovery facilities and more than 350 miles of pipe, we serve a broad geographic area, including Greenville County and portions of Anderson, Laurens, Pickens and Spartanburg counties. Each day an estimated 42 million gallons of water passes through our trunk lines and reclamation facilities before being cleaned and returned to our area rivers and streams.