Columbia leaders are preparing to reimagine one of the city’s most visible stretches of downtown riverfront.

But questions remain over how development along the Congaree River will balance with environmental protection.

The city plans to build a new public park alongside the area’s first private development on land between the Gervais and Blossom Street bridges. Advocates say the projects could define how Columbia showcases its riverfront for decades to come.

“This is a very visible stretch of river,” said Bill Stangler, the Congaree Riverkeeper. “It’s downtown, and it’s going to be how Columbia really identifies its riverfront moving forward. So how that gets done is certainly going to be important.”

The city is expected to select a design firm for the park in the coming months. Mayor Daniel Rickenmann has called the project “transformative,” saying it will help Columbia “finally unveil our river” and expand public access beyond canoeing and kayaking.

But with development comes oversight. The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services issues stormwater permits and other reviews to builders to limit pollution from construction. It also will inspect projects for compliance with state and federal protection regulations.

“The most common permits required from our agency for development projects are stormwater permits that limit the stormwater that comes from a construction site and could potentially impact the environment,” said Laura Renwick, the agency’s communications director. “Once a permit is issued, our agency performs inspections to make sure the industry or construction project is meeting the conditions of its permit.”

Renwick said the state also monitors for emerging contaminants such as PFAS, ethylene oxide and harmful algal blooms.

Stangler said those regulatory safeguards are essential. But he urged city leaders to go further by strengthening protections for surrounding properties – riparian buffers, wetlands and floodplains.

“We just need to make sure that the rules we have in place are strong enough to do what our communities want to see happen with these places,” he said. “There are opportunities to improve wetland and floodplain protection to make sure we’re putting the right things in the right places.”

The South Carolina Office of Resilience, which coordinates disaster recovery and preparedness across state government and with local partners, emphasizes the importance of planning for long-term risks such as heavier rainfall, land-use change and flash flooding.

“Development that preserves or enhances the natural function of the flood plain and accounts for future conditions can positively impact the community and economy while protecting the ecosystem functions,” said Kevin O’Dell, public information coordinator with the office.

Sustainable planning for Stangler is about more than rules and permits — it depends on public engagement. He said community advocacy for Columbia’s rivers has grown more vocal in recent years, helping to elevate them as a key part of the city’s identity.

“These rivers belong to each and every one of us,” Stangler said. “But it really matters when people stand up and speak up. Being engaged in that river protection effort is absolutely critical.”