The Lewis Smith Shopping Center was once a retail shopping hub for Whiteville, but flooding, fires and vandalism made the complex a nuisance for downtown Whiteville.
It will soon be a landmark park, but city officials need a name for it.
The center off Madison Street was the first shopping plaza of its kind in Columbus County when it was built in the 1960s. As retailers shifted away from downtown, parts of the building remained empty for years. Heavy damage from hurricanes Matthew and Florence left much of the building unusable, and it was virtually destroyed after a fire in 2022. The city eventually took possession of the property and demolished the building in 2023.
Plans are in place for a large park and open space on the property, which will serve the dual purpose of a recreational area and to help with food mitigation.
A poll is now open on the city website, whitevillenc.gov, where residents can vote on a name for the facility. The choices are
- Whiteville Unity Park
- Freedom Park
- Downtown Gathering Grounds
- Heart of Whiteville Downtown Park
- Vineland Park
- Madison Street Park
Deadline to vote is Sept. 29. The name will be announced at the ribbon cutting and groundbreaking on Oct. 7 at 10 a.m.
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