|Updated: Nov. 18, 2024 at 7:39 PM EST

SULLIVAN‘S ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - The town of Sullivan’s Island has revealed updated master plan designs for J. Marshall Stith Park after receiving the public’s feedback.

The new design includes pickleball courts, new and inclusive playground equipment, a pavilion, paths and restoring the mound.

Leaders say it’s ultimately up to the council over the next few years to approve funding from different departments to upgrade the park as they see fit. The master plan designs are not final and could see changes based on council opinions or future funding opportunities, but the plans are a product of multiple public input sessions and a survey on what people want to see at their island’s community park.

The potentially more than $5 million project at first included a community pool with lap lanes that would have cost upwards of $2 million.

A public survey of more than 300 people found that 87% opposed a pool and preferred open park space. A pool is no longer in the master plan, but the designers did provide their design alternatives that would have applied if it were favored.

Instead, the plan focuses on restoring the mound as part of a playground and gathering space. The mound is the large dirt hill that served as a fort and battery throughout the island’s history. The plan proposes paths to the top of the old fort where there would be open park space and a lookout tower. Along the paths up the mound would be historical education information.

Part of the access to the top of the mound would be a retaining wall with steps and a path leading down to the grove. The grove is a space featuring a community pavilion, paths and greenery.

Katie Fradella has a son who she says loves the park and she thinks it’s a worthwhile investment for the growing families on the island to make improvements.

“We come here probably once or twice a week. My son is two-and-a-half, so he loves playing here. It’s a little outdated, but it’s nice because it’s convenient,” Fradella says.

Another side of the mound would meld into an inclusive playground through paths and potentially an embankment slide. The current playgrounds would be removed. The new playground area would have two different areas with age-appropriate equipment for younger and older children. The equipment will have pieces that are accessible to children of all needs.

The plan proposes adding two pickleball courts and a shaded structure behind the two current tennis courts. The plan includes creating a parking lot for ADA accessibility and golf cart parking near the courts as well.

“I think it’s a great idea. I mean, there’s a lot of people that have young kids out here. I know Pickleball is huge now. When my mom comes to visit, she wants to play, and it would be nice to have pickleball courts and some new playground equipment,” Fradella says.

Fradella says she already enjoys meeting other parents and neighbors at the park and appreciates upgrading it to be even more inviting for community events. It’s not just the people who live there that would benefit from the park as well. Visitors, like Laura Phillips, say it’s a great public perk when towns she vacations to have updated facilities.

“I am a huge tennis and pickleball player, and when I go on vacations like a little beach town, I fully support wanting to have that here, because, it makes us go outside, get our exercise, and then even meet locals who also want to play with us,” Phillips says.

The budget action plan for the project notes the town already paid $60,000 for master planning and design work starting with public hearings in 2023 and leading to the designs in 2024. The next item estimates $150,000 for permitting through 2025. Drainage and parking site work is estimated to cost about $500,000 and could get underway between 2025 and 2026. Landscaping and restoring the mound is estimated to cost $1 million and could start, along with playground construction, between 2026 and 2027. The playground equipment is estimated to cost $870,000. The community pavilion, pickleball courts and observation tower are action items for 2027 and beyond, with a combined estimated cost of $825,000.

The links to the master plan designs and budget action plan can be found on the town’s website for the project.

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