SC State Parks will install water bottle filling stations in 25 parks thanks to Duke Energy grant

A $150,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation is supporting the installation of water bottle refilling stations at the 25 South Carolina State Parks in Duke Energy Carolina counties. The project will help reduce plastic waste while hydrating countless adventures in some of South Carolina’s most treasured places.  

The announcement will be made by officials from Duke Energy and South Carolina State Parks on April 19 – just days before Earth Day on April 22 – at a press conference in Paris Mountain State Park.

Each water station includes two water fountains, a bottle-filling spout, and a ground-level pet-friendly fountain, offering visitors and their four-legged friends fresh filtered water at the push of a button. The stations are being installed at common visitation areas or trailheads within the parks.

“Installing water bottle filling stations at more than half of our 48 state parks is an incredible step toward increased sustainability, and it wouldn’t be possible without the generous and intentional support of Duke Energy,” said Duane Parrish, director of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism. “We encourage all of our visitors to ‘come out and play’ in our state parks, and staying hydrated is an essential element of any safe and fun outdoor adventure. The water bottle filling stations are a convenient amenity for our visitors that will encourage them to bring a reusable water bottle on their next trip, helping keep single-use plastic litter out of our waters and off of our trails.”

“Being good stewards of the environment and the natural beauty across South Carolina is a mission Duke Energy takes very seriously,” said Linda Hannon, director of government and community relations for Duke Energy. “That includes finding new ways to support our communities with sustainable solutions. South Carolina State Parks truly lead the way when it comes to finding and implementing these solutions across our state and we are excited to continue to support these efforts.” Over the years, the Duke Energy Foundation has been a generous supporter of projects and programs that help protect, enhance, and share our natural resources in South Carolina State Parks and all over the state.

This is the third year in a row that a grant announcement has been made in conjunction with Earth Day. Last April, South Carolina State Parks and Duke Energy cut the ribbon on a new paved trail to Lake Placid in Paris Mountain for visitors with mobility impairments. The park received the grant for that project in 2022 when the Duke Energy Foundation awarded $400,000 to various organizations in a monthlong campaign supporting sustainability and environmental efforts across Palmetto State.

South Carolina State Parks that will install water bottle filling stations in the coming months thanks to the 2024 Duke Energy Foundation grant are:

• Andrew Jackson State Park*
• Baker Creek State Park*
• Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site
• Caesars Head State Park*
• Calhoun Falls State Park
• Chester State Park*
• Croft State Park
• Devils Fork State Park
• Dreher Island State Park*
• Hamilton Branch State Park*
• Hickory Knob State Resort Park*
• Jones Gap State Park*
• Keowee-Toxaway State Park
• Kings Mountain State Park
• Lake Greenwood State Park*
• Lake Hartwell State Park*
• Lake Wateree State Park*
• Landsford Canal State Park*
• Oconee State Park*
• Oconee Station State Historic Site
• Paris Mountain State Park*
• Rose Hill State Historic Site
• Sadlers Creek State Park
• Table Rock State Park

*A ranger will be stationed at select parks from 11AM – 1PM on Saturday, April 20, with giveaways to celebrate this announcement (while supplies last). Follow SC State Parks for more information.