A longtime employee of the City of Greer was recently recognized for her dedicated service to the community.
Ann Cunningham, director of Greer’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department, recently received the Robert L. Reid Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame Award, presented by the South Carolina Recreation & Parks Association. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to parks and recreation throughout their careers.
“I'm just standing back in awe sometimes,” Cunningham said. “When you have high expectations, and we all do in the city, you’re going to get the best of the best. And that’s what we try to achieve.”
Cunningham came to the city in 2006, when Greer City Park was an empty field and the Century Park playground was made out of wood. Since her arrival, the department has gained a tourism wing, more than doubled its staff and helped lead multiple projects that have helped shape the city today.
“Every day is different, and that's a good thing — it’s so diverse, what we do,” Cunningham said. “And we do it because we want to help the community. We want to give back. If we can go in and make a little bit of a difference or bring some happiness somewhere, that’s what we try to do.”
Cunningham grew up in Hartsville, South Carolina, and said she spent much of her time enjoying the outdoors. Today, she enjoys gardening, reading or spending some time on Lake Bowen.
Under her direction, the Greer Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department has overseen a variety of projects. Greer City Park was constructed in 2008, Century Park was redone in the 2010s and the Greer Center for the Arts was revitalized in 2019.
Now, the department is turning its focus to more trail and conservation work. Greer became the first city in South Carolina to receive the Monarch City USA designation in 2018 and continues to do butterfly releases today, and the South Tyger River Trail is currently under construction. The city’s new sports and events center is also slated to open in 2027, giving the department more space for recreational activities.
“We're going into a different chapter,” Cunningham said. “It’s so cool how things just continuously change. We’ve got a lot to look forward to.”
For more information on the Greer Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department, visit its website.
