Aiken focuses on the city's North side with three big projects (neighborhood, safe)

[Airforceguy]

Glad to see the northside getting some love...

The city bought almost 120 acres on Columbia Highway for a recreational area. Parks and Recreation is looking at designs to turn these trees into athletic fields. "It would help bring families into the area because it would give them something to do. It would give them a safe place for the kids to be," says Swygert.

The city is also close to completing infrastructure upgrades in the Crosland Park Neighborhood, replacing old clay pipes with new water and sewer lines before the end of October. When the project is complete, SCDOT will repave the streets.

The city is also using grant money to tear down old abandoned properties in Crosland Park. "I think it's awesome because for one thing it rehabilitates the neighborhood. A lot of times blighted areas, that's where drugs become prevalent, and that will helpdeter that."

Three big projects in a part of the city that once felt like an afterthought. All of these projects have different timelines, and there's a lot riding on them. There was even a mayoral forum last night where the candidates discussed what they would like to do on this side of the city.

Aiken focuses on the city's North side with three big projects