Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Parks capital projects: Johns Island and W.L. Stevens move forward; multiple maintenance tasks complete
Loading...
Summary
Staff reported progress across dozens of parks projects citywide, including design work for Johns Island and W.L. Stevens recreation centers, temporary certificates for Johns Island fields, municipal restroom delivery, playground replacements and maintenance contracts.
City parks staff outlined progress on capital and maintenance projects across Charleston during the Recreation Committee meeting on March 24.
Staff said design work and initial contracts are underway for two large recreation center projects — a new Johns Island Recreation Center and a W.L. Stevens project — and that selection committees for construction manager-at-risk (CMAR) procurement had shortlisted candidates and planned April selection meetings. The presentation combined capital and maintenance status items and covered many neighborhoods.
Key project status updates
- Johns Island: Staff held a design visioning session with the mayor and design team and reported an initial contract to begin architectural programming and schematic design. The committee was told staff hopes to bring construction items to the council agenda within the next 60 days. Temporary certificates of occupancy were issued for fields 1 and 3 at the Johns Island Park (for practice and games), but restrooms were not operational after a plumbing issue; the school district contractor is scoping repairs.
- W.L. Stevens: Staff reported a visioning session completed, early schematic work underway, and planned CMAR selection. The project was listed among the top parks-ready initiatives with funding on the capital improvement plan.
- Pemberton Park and municipal restrooms: Demolition and site work are underway at Pemberton Park; a municipal restroom building has a confirmed set date of April 3 and required rough-in inspections have passed.
- Harborview / Fort Johnson Road Park: Staff are studying cost estimates to add pickleball courts where tennis courts were originally designed for expansion.
- Plymouth Park and Riverland Terrace: Playground replacements, parking and ADA work, new signs, fencing and plantings were completed; staff credited a private-public partnership of neighbors and city crews.
- Shaw Center: Staff reported the Shaw Center is 60% complete with a target substantial completion date of June 2.
- Maintenance and contracts: The city awarded an indefinite-delivery contract to Sports Services Pros to allow faster court resurfacing; staff reported extensive ball-field maintenance metrics (233 field drags, 29 games recorded, 89 new field layouts for spring sports) and are increasing use of organic materials to reduce persistent synthetic products.
Why it matters: The projects touch high-use facilities and many neighborhoods and include both new construction and deferred-maintenance work. Staff emphasized ongoing public-engagement steps before major design approvals and noted coordination with Charleston County School District (CCSD) where school construction has affected city park infrastructure.
Ending: Staff will continue CMAR selection and schematic design, address the Johns Island restroom plumbing issue with CCSD contractors, and return updates as contracts are finalized.
