Repairs take time, but they are coming.

The City of West Columbia is taking steps to repair the Riverwalk Park and Amphitheater.

The area was damaged after the October 2015 flood.

City officials are requesting funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but that is not the only funding source that will grant repair money.

State Sen. Nikki Setzler of West Columbia and State Rep. Kenny Bingham of Cayce have been instrumental in assisting the city in obtaining a $30,000 grant from the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (PRT.)

“We are working with engineers and staff to expedite the repairs at the Riverwalk and this $30,000 helps the city to immediately address renovations that can be handled in-house,” said Jamie Hook, West Columbia director of public works.

The city announced the grant funding Monday. It is the same type of grant the City of Cayce received in 2015 after flood water severely damaged its Riverwalk last June. Cayce announced last week it will get at least $1.4 million in FEMA funds to repair the Newman Boat Landing and Phase II of Riverwalk in Cayce.

In West Columbia, park benches, picnic tables and the gravel seating areas of the amphitheater are being improved with the PRT funding. Other repairs, including the historic marker signs. and other projects are currently under way.

Each portion of the Riverwalk will be reopened as repairs are completed. The entire project is expected to be completed by the Fall of 2017, if not before.