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Dorchester County parks staff set Pine Trace for spring 2025; kayak launch, staffing and safety updates reported
Summary
Parks staff reported a spring 2025 target for the Pine Trace park opening, said the Swan Drive kayak launch should open within two weeks, described a National Park Service grant partnership and requested new staff positions. The board approved minutes and adjourned without further votes.
Dorchester County Parks and Recreation staff told the county parks advisory group that Pine Trace is aimed to open in spring 2025 and that the new Swan Drive kayak launch could open within about two weeks, while staff outlined staffing changes, grant-backed design work and safety maintenance plans.
The update, delivered by Austin (Parks and Recreation staff) during the Parks and Recreation meeting, covered construction and programming milestones across multiple county parks, security steps after thefts, and requests for additional positions for the next fiscal year.
The Pine Trace site is in the clearing and grading phase for a playground and other facilities, Austin said. "We're gonna say spring of '25," he said when asked for a target opening window. Park staff said they are training part-time employees now so the site can open with sufficient staffing.
Staff reported Swan Drive kayak launch work is nearly complete: only an asphalt apron, signage and a gate remain, and the county is waiting for a contractor commitment delayed by recent snow. Austin said the launch should be ready in "probably next 2 weeks," and staff will tentatively schedule a dedication once paving is confirmed.
The department described several program and amenity updates. At Ashley River Park, pavilion rentals have become a significant revenue source and programming — homeschool enrichment, nature walks and STEM events — has grown. A disc golf course has been cleared; tee boxes and baskets are installed and staff plan a final walk-through with an Innova representative before opening. Dog parks at the new site are large, and staff are evaluating ground cover and mulching with facilities staff.
Staff outlined a partnership with the National Park Service under the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program and said they are working with a Clemson landscape architecture class. A stakeholder meeting is scheduled for February 2025 to refine design direction and gather local input.
Operations and safety topics included overnight patrols by rangers after several instances of theft at park sites and the theft of game cameras at one river park. Playground maintenance and life-safety steps were also discussed: the department has a certified playground safety inspector and keeps spare parts on order for items that wear out, such as zip-line components, and plans to keep a replacement piece on site.
Staffing updates: Austin said a candidate has tentatively accepted an operations specialist position pending paperwork. The department is requesting reclassification and added duties for the senior park ranger position to include undeveloped property management and nature interpretation, and has requested two additional positions in next year’s budget: a deputy director and a recreation and programming coordinator.
On membership and attendance counts, staff reported roughly 3,800 total pass holders at Ashley River Park, with more than 5,800 pass check-ins over six months; staff also reported vehicle-based counts that produced an estimate of 7,600 guest entries and a dog count of 7,372 over the recorded period. Staff explained the counts come from gate-button tallies and vehicle counts and said they will refine counting tools as needed.
Board members asked questions about timelines, site security and program partnerships; members suggested outreach to the Charleston Visitors Bureau and event partners for potential collaboration. Staff said they will pursue those partnership discussions and continue site preparation and safety work ahead of openings.
Votes at a glance: The board approved the minutes of the Nov. 19, 2024 meeting by motion and second and later moved, seconded and unanimously approved adjournment. No other formal board votes on ordinances, contracts or budget items were recorded in the transcript.
Looking ahead, staff said they will confirm paving dates for the kayak launch, hold the February stakeholder meeting for the Clemson design project, continue staffing onboarding and present fiscal-year staffing requests during budget planning.
