SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. — The park beside Simpsonville City Hall is getting its old name back after City Council voted 4 to 3 on Tuesday to retire the Gracely Park title and return to Simpsonville City Park.
Mayor Paul Shewmaker cast one of the three no votes, joined by Councilmember Shannon Williams of Ward 3 and Councilmember Sherry Roche of Ward 4. Councilmember Chad O’Rear led the push for the change.
The 19.2-acre greenspace took the Gracely name in 2024, after a major renovation, to honor Dianna Gracely, who served seven years as city administrator. She is still living and retired from that job in 2025.
New signs will be paid for out of the city’s hospitality and accommodations budget. City staff are still collecting prices from a sign vendor, and no date has been set for the swap.
Council also split 4 to 3 on a first vote to strip a retroactive Jan. 1, 2023 effective date from the city’s property-naming ordinance, with O’Rear, Aaron Rupe and Jerry Tuso opposed. That ordinance bars naming city property for a living person and requires a one-year wait after a death. Outgoing City Attorney Daniel Hughes had urged the date fix, and the measure returns for final approval on Nov. 10.
