Park Circle skate-park plan draws mixed public comment; neighbors urge preserving JV Morris tennis courts

Public comment at the North Charleston City Council meeting on March 27 focused heavily on a proposed Park Circle skate park and on broader questions of equitable park investment across the city.

Supporters represented by Park Circle Skate and individual residents described the proposed site off East Montague as ideal because it is visible, walkable from nearby schools, and would provide a free, accessible recreational option for children and teens who do not participate in traditional sports. Sean Lieber Knight, identified as a co-founder of Park Circle Skate, said the group follows Tony Hawk Foundation best practices and has worked with city staff and nonprofits on free youth clinics. "Skate parks are diverse, family friendly spaces," he said, and the JV Morris Park site meets criteria for visibility and proximity to schools.

Several speakers told council the skate park would give local students a close, safe place to practice and help engage youth. Corey Firmeister said a central Park Circle location would let kids walk or bicycle to the park rather than rely on car access; Chad Counts, presenting as a father and public-school teacher who works with students with learning disabilities, said skateboarding helps children develop resilience and confidence.

Opponents, including Tammy Arsenal, president of the Northeast Park Circle Civic Club, asked that JV Morris Park remain tennis and pickleball courts because those courts are the only park facility in her neighborhood. Arsenal said residents near JV Morris have asked the city to preserve the tennis courts, keep the park closed at dusk, and avoid stadium lighting or frequent tournaments to preserve neighborhood tranquility. Arsenal told the council that, while she supports skateboarding as a sport, she favors locating a large skate facility elsewhere so the neighborhood park can retain its current uses.

Other public comments broadened the discussion to equity in park spending. Monica Mummy, speaking from the Northwood area, described Northwood as a diverse, low-income community with a large non-English-speaking student population and said it has been under-resourced compared with Park Circle. Mummy cited that Park Circle areas have received substantial investment while her neighborhood received a $27,000 parks grant and remains underserved; she requested a town hall so city leaders could hear directly from residents and improve outreach and investment equity. Mummy also referenced a Revere Group recommendation to spend roughly $7,000,000 to address problematic neighborhood lakes; she said that recommendation has since been reduced and that the city should pursue more equitable spending.

Speakers who support the skate park pointed to mitigations for neighborhood concerns: locating the park where it is visible and safe, designing concrete features that reduce noise similar to tennis/ basketball courts, and using modern lighting to limit light spill. Kaylin Morrison, an engineer and neighborhood resident, said engineering solutions exist for lighting and parking concerns and encouraged the city to pursue those options.

No formal council action on the skate-park siting was recorded during the meeting; the item appeared in public-comment discussion and will require subsequent staff reports and formal agenda placement for any decision.

Councilmembers and staff were advised of constituent concerns and of requests for additional outreach; residents asked for a town hall and for the city to provide clearer information on project timelines, parking plans, lighting designs and how the city decides park-use changes.