Conway Daily Briefing: Parks, Ferry, and Local Impact
Conway, SC — February 7, 2026 — Park upgrades, a new electric river ferry, and a major college impact report headline today’s Conway local news.
Conway Daily Briefing
Good morning, Conway. Here’s a quick look at what’s new around town as of Saturday, February 7, 2026.
Collins Park getting fresh shelters and WWII memorial
Work is underway at Collins Park as the city follows through on a parks plan adopted last year. Crews are repairing and replacing aging picnic shelters and adding a new one near the pickleball courts. City parks staff say the new shelters should be ready in about three to four weeks, with only minor disruptions for families who regularly use the park.
A new World War II memorial is also planned for the park, expected to take four to five months to complete. The monument will honor the Norton twins, Conway natives who served as pilots during the war and once lived across from the park. Neighbors say they’re eager to have a visible reminder of that local history.
Electric ferry approved for the Waccamaw River
City leaders are moving ahead with a new electric ferry experience on the Waccamaw River after approving the purchase last week. The project is funded through a state grant and is designed to serve as both transportation and an attraction, linking the riverwalk area with downtown.
Officials say the ferry will operate more like a small themed cruise than a simple shuttle, with captains sharing stories about Conway’s past and river ecology. The goal is to connect parts of the city that have felt separated and to give walkers and cyclists another way to move between key destinations.
HGTC’s local economic impact tops $500 million
A new economic study finds that Horry-Georgetown Technical College now generates roughly $504 million in annual impact across the Grand Strand. The analysis looked at college operations, student and alumni spending, and how graduates support local employers.
The report notes that about 3,000 graduates are working in the region and that roughly 90% of students stay in the area after finishing their programs. Local economic development officials say that retention is a big reason employers can find trained workers close to home, and they expect the college’s role to keep growing over the next decade.
Around town today and this month
History fans have a full Saturday, with a free children’s program at the L.W. Paul Living History Farm and an afternoon talk at the Horry County Museum on the Slave Dwelling Project and preserving stories of enslaved people.
Looking ahead, downtown neighborhoods are preparing for the first Conway Porchfest on February 15, when front porches in the historic district will become small music stages for an afternoon of free performances.
Sources
- https://www.wmbfnews.com/2026/02/06/conway-begins-collins-park-upgrades-with-picnic-shelters-wwii-memorial-planned/
- https://www.wmbfnews.com/2026/02/06/conway-launch-electric-ferry-experience-waccamaw-river/
- https://www.wmbfnews.com/2026/02/06/hgtc-generates-504-million-annual-economic-impact-grand-strand/
- https://www.townplanner.com/conway/sc/
- https://conwayalive.com/events/conway_porchfest/2026-02-15/
- https://business.conwayscchamber.com/news
