Ground broken for waterfront parkBy Prentiss Findlay (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
MOUNT PLEASANT — Town Council members wore white hard hats Tuesday as they lined up to dig gold-painted shovels into a small pile of charcoal-gray soil next to the towering Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. 
Tyrone Walker Mount Pleasant Town Council, staff and leaders used gold-painted shovels in the ground-breaking ceremony Tuesday for the $14 million Memorial Waterfront Park in the shadow of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. "This is an incredibly bold step," Town Administrator Mac Burdette said. He was talking about the $14 million Memorial Waterfront Park that the groundbreaking celebrated. "This is an awesome thing that is happening in our community," Mayor Harry Hallman said. Aside from a 1,200-foot-long pier foundation, the park is mostly dirt right now. It sits on a V-shaped wedge of about 20 acres in the shadow of the bridge. From the end of the pier, the view toward the harbor is framed by the underbelly of the bridge and its towering twin spires. The Yorktown, Castle Pinckney and the Charleston waterfront are visible. The park opens Memorial Day Weekend 2009, but some impatient anglers have been wetting a line from the unfinished pier, which will be the longest in the area. This week, officials shooed away a fisherman who offered $100 if he could stay. The construction site, including Wingo Way, is closed for public safety. When completed, the first phase of the park on 8 acres from Wingo Way to the pier will include a visitor center, a veterans memorial, a sweetgrass pavilion, a playground and a tackle shop. On Tuesday night, council voted to enter an agreement with the Department of Transportation that would transfer the 8 acres to the town in the form of a quitclaim deed for the stipulated purpose of building the park. At the same time, council voted to explore purchasing the remaining 4.5 acres, which could allow it to be used for purposes other than a park. According to a park master plan, a dog park would be located on the 4.5 acres. It might still be used for that purpose, even if the town purchases it, officials said, but buying it fee simple will allow the town to consider other options. Hallman has said that the property in question is too valuable for a dog park, which can be located elsewhere. A convention center, a performing arts center or an office building are some of the options that have been discussed, but no decision has been made. Councilman Gary Santos, who opposed the agreement with the state DOT, said he would hold a meeting to let the public know that council was exploring buying the land. He said that option was not presented to the public before the vote on Tuesday night. Reach Prentiss Findlay at 937-5711 or |
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Comments
This article has 16 comment(s)
Posted by Mayor on May 14, 2008 at 12:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
$14million? You could build a golf course for much, much less. How can a park warrant that amount of cash. Something is horribly wrong.
Posted by Thomas1776 on May 14, 2008 at 2:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In the meantime, M. Pleasant is allowing ugly and tall buildings to go up right next to the bridge that ruin the scenery.
Posted by Thomas1776 on May 14, 2008 at 2:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A dog park? hahahahaha!
Posted by zoomru on May 14, 2008 at 5:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
These CITY COUNCILS have gone MAD!!!!! Vote them all OUT!!!
Posted by zoomru on May 14, 2008 at 6:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A TACKLE SHOP!! Now the city is in to FISHING too!!!
Uh OH!
That fish is too big... That fish is too small....Sorry we do'nt open until 10 ....Sorry we close at dusk.....You can't park THERE.....Don't walk on the grass....Are you SMOKING??...Where are you from??....NO PETS ALLOWED!!....
MY GOD THEY ARE INSANE!!!!
Posted by Early on May 14, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm OK with everything up to the dog park. 4.5 acres could be used better by the general public. Who will benefit from the dog park? Broaden your mind council!
Posted by bigwhip on May 14, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
AAAAHH yes! The beat goes on....spend, spend, spend. Book it! A tax increase next year.
Posted by zoomru on May 14, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
BIGWHIP!!
The beat goes on.... Isn't that a SONNY and CHER SONG!!!
Maybe that can be the Mt. Pleasant Theme SONG!!! ??
Posted by zoomru on May 14, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey guys and gals
We commentors here would probably do a better job running the City, COUNTY and STATE from these comment sections compared to any of these CLOWNS!! At least the public could view what was being said and discussed with out having to drive somewhere after work!? We are in the HEAT of a Election cycle and these newspapers have little daily coverage of what these CATS are up too. You mean to tell me that BUDDY WITHERSPOON, FORD, HADDON, etc were not on the campaign trail yesterday?? What were they doing, who were they talking to, and who is donating to them????
COME ON!!!
Posted by zoomru on May 14, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is NEWS!!...ISN'T IT!!
http://www.beaufortgazette.com
/local/story/437043.html
This lady left a debate?? Shouldn't she schedule better?? We
are in the 21st Century...she could of teleconferenced in while she was driving if she had too!!! Isnt that what our fine people of CHarleston do with RICHARD TODD!!
MAJOR RICARD TODD you are now promoted and need to report to BEAUFORT!!!
Posted by zoomru on May 14, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is NEWS!!!
http://www.gaffneyledger.com/news
/2008/0502/front_page/001.html
"The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense Fund, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, and Friends of the Earth were among the environmental groups that joined Cherin in speaking out against Duke Energy's proposed nuclear plant"
WHAT!!! Well were do they think energy is going to come FROM!!! West Virginia???
PRENTISS!! GET UP THERE AND ASK THESE POEPLE SOME REAL QUESTIONS!!!
Posted by zoomru on May 14, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
TP..
Point taken. I know my typing needs to be better. Especially when I'm on the phone at the same time. I type what pops in my mind; and even when I re-read my own stuff later, I wince? Thanks for at least trying to read my posts.
Posted by Early on May 14, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
TP, I have three very spoiled dogs that are treated like children, my dogs do not need 4.5 acres to walk and poop. This is not private money but money I put into. 4.5 acres for a dog park is an over-kill and a waste of MY money.
50% of people in Mt P own dogs? I'll give you that but i bet 50% of the people who own dogs won't take them to the park! Find something better to spend the money on.
Posted by Early on May 14, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
TP, make sure you go through the obstacle course:)
Posted by ChrisPia on May 14, 2008 at 4:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.dogfriendly.com/server/travel...
No stats but This Might Interest You.
Posted by Slick50 on May 15, 2008 at 7:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
With gas approaching 4.00 per gallon, it may be cost prohibitive to take Fido to the park for a romp and dump, especially if a parking fee is imposed. If you can walk to the park, you and your pet probably got enough exercise just getting there.