- Newberry City Commission approved a $600,000 purchase of 9 acres for Environmental Park expansion and a regional fire training facility.
- State appropriations of $750,000 funded the burn box training facility, with construction starting in fiscal year 2026-27.
- The property includes a home to house wastewater plant managers and could convert to a future fire station saving millions.
The Newberry City Commission unanimously approved a $600,000 purchase of nine acres as an addition to its Environmental Park with multiple intended uses, including a regional fire training facility.
During a regular meeting on Monday, City Manager Jordan Marlowe called the 8.83-acre acquisition located west of Champions Park an exciting opportunity that would help Newberry in the three-year buildout of its new $80 million wastewater treatment plant and down the road as it plans to increase fire safety coverage with growth.
The city began looking for land after receiving $750,000 in state appropriations to build a regional fire training facility known as a “burn box” — $500,000 last year and $250,000 this year. Marlowe said the city risked losing the funding if it did not identify a property for the facility…