The Old Mill Pond is nearing completion, with one of the final steps being repairing its concrete spillway. According to a press release, the town will be lowering water levels at Gibson Pond and Barr Lake so that repairs can be made.

Once the repairs are made, the Old Mill Pond will be filled with water for the first time since 2015 and reach what the town called ‘pre-flood’ conditions.

The release said that the roughly one mile walking path around the pond will be completed soon with an opening date still set for this spring. The walking path was unable to be worked on until the dam was completed, which reached completion late last year.

The trail will cost roughly $3 million and will include lighting, cameras and funds for the project which are coming from the Old Mill Pond Trail Fund.This comes out of the tax increment financing urban regeneration funds along with the streets and infrastructure fund.

The trail is set to increase pedestrian connectivity near downtown, as it will link the Old Mill and its parking lots, the Reserve at Mill Landing apartment complex, South Lake Drive (near New Bethel AME Church) and likely a new development that’s in the works nearby.

Gibson Road Closed to thru Traffic

A portion of Gibson Road in Lexington, between South Lake Drive and Gibson Park, will be closed for the repair of a pipe culvert, according to a release. The road closed to thru traffic March 4, though remains open for local traffic, and is set to be completed March 16.

“SCDOT has been in touch with local emergency management officials and the school district,” said Ginny Jones, director of strategic communications for SCDOT. “We always coordinate with the appropriate law enforcement agencies to ensure the safe establishment of road closures and construction zones such as this one.”

Jones said that the department established a signed detour route on other state-maintained roads, adding that some drivers may wish to plan their own detour routes. 

Randy Edwards, transportation director for the town of Lexington, said that the town will not be helping with traffic control or detours, adding that there is a possibility the town will put the Gibson Road light on “flash."

Edwards added that Gibson Pond Park will not be affected by the road closure.

Construction set to begin on Irmo High School east wing

On March 8, Lexington-Richland School District 5 will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the new east wing at Irmo High. 

According to a release, the new wing will be 120,000 square feet with three stories and feature 60 new classrooms, a media center and administrative offices. The new wing is set to be completed in August 2026.

During a February meeting last year, Clint Riddle, project manager for architecture firm LS3P, said the east wing expansion would allow for a capacity of 1,550 students at the school, which currently has space for 1,350. He added that the design allows for potential future growth, allowing for possible expansions in two directions.

Lexington-Richland School District 5 continues to focus on a local apartment complex

Lexington-Richland School District 5 will be hosting another block party at the Harbison Gardens apartment complex.

According to a release, the purpose of the block party is to help Harbison Garden students and families gain access to community resources that can provide support. The release adds that there will be roughly a dozen organizations attending the party to share information about programs and services.

“School District Five believes healthy and vibrant relationships between our families, the district and community is the key to helping our students succeed,” the release reads. “We believe schools and school districts cannot do it alone. Mobilizing neighborhoods requires the collective effort of community stakeholders with a shared vision.”

These parties are apart of the ongoing efforts the district is implementing to combat the local crime rate and increase students academic performance. The Harbison Gardens complex, which is located at 401 Columbiana Dr., has been an epicenter for crime issues.

The party is sponsored by the district's Community Support Services, a task force implemented last summer. The program includes a memorandum of understanding between the district and WISHROCK Housing Partners, the complex’s owners, and NHE Management, the management company that oversees the complex.

“You're seeing us making connections by offering resources to families to build those principles that we see and that we need in school,” superintendent Akil Ross told The Chronicle during the September block party. “You see community assets coming around that will provide families and live after school programs, art programs, tutoring programs that will help build the relationship skills that kids need when all three legs of the stool stand and these children are going to flourish”