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Beth Brownlee outlines timelines for WL Stevens pool and Johns Island rec center; parks director signals transition
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Summary
At the March 19 Charleston City Regulation Committee meeting, Beth Brownlee, assistant director of capital projects, said both WL Stevens and Johns Island Recreation Center will go to TRC in about two weeks and estimated construction could begin in June, with projects taking roughly 18–24 months. The department also announced a change to maintenance reporting and a staff leadership transition.
At a March 19 meeting of the Charleston City Regulation Committee, Beth Brownlee, assistant director of capital projects, told members the WL Stevens pool and the Johns Island Recreation Center will be submitted to the Technical Review Committee in about two weeks and could begin construction this summer.
Brownlee said WL Stevens is likely to be first because it is smaller, and estimated an 18-month construction schedule for each project under normal conditions. “We are submitting, in 2 weeks for TRC for both projects,” Brownlee said. She added that Johns Island — a roughly 57,000-square-foot facility split between recreation and aquatics space — could require a ground surcharge that would extend work toward 24 months.
The Johns Island center’s recreation side will include two full-size indoor basketball courts convertible for pickleball and volleyball, a small fitness area, a movement room for yoga and pilates, multipurpose rental rooms and administrative offices. The aquatics side will feature a 25-meter by 25-yard pool and a smaller, warmer therapy pool for lessons and rehabilitation; Brownlee said both WL Stevens and Johns Island will include similar therapy pools.
On staffing and operations, a parks director at the meeting said personnel requirements — including lifeguard and program staffing tied to DHEC codes — will be developed during upcoming budget cycles and compared to lead-time hiring practices used for fire stations. The director said dedicated Johns Island staff will allow more organized programming on the island.
The committee also heard a shortened maintenance briefing: instead of a verbal recital at meetings, the department will circulate a digital facilities-maintenance report with meeting minutes. The director summarized recent upkeep work, reporting 236 drags of baseball and softball infields, setup for 16 baseball/softball games, 61 other field setups, 244 field repaints, grooming of the city’s synthetic turf field Stonyfield, and ongoing mowing and irrigation upkeep across roughly 87 fields.
The director announced this was their last recreation committee meeting and said they will move to work with the Charleston Parks Conservancy, a nonprofit partner, though they will continue to collaborate with city staff. Committee members thanked the official for years of service, and the director said a replacement was still under discussion with the mayor.
The next procedural step for the projects is the TRC submission in about two weeks; Brownlee said construction for WL Stevens could begin in June if reviews and pricing proceed on schedule. The department will circulate the first digital maintenance report alongside the next meeting’s minutes.
