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County parks officials present East County pool plan; residents press for traffic, access and conservation safeguards
Summary
Charleston County Parks officials outlined a proposal for an East County recreation site — including a possible community pool on a parcel where Greenbelt funds helped secure land — and faced questions from residents and councilmembers about traffic on Highway 17, access for underserved neighborhoods, and limits tied to Greenbelt funding.
Kevin Bowie, who identified himself as executive director of the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission, told the Awendaw Town Council that the county has identified a roughly 79-acre parcel on Highway 17 as an East County recreation site and is seeking public input on possible uses, including a community pool complex.
"The yellow area is 79 acres and that is the area that we asked Green Belt to kind of help out. It's the $4 million coming back from green belt funding," Bowie said, explaining that a portion of the site was acquired with Greenbelt assistance and that a smaller, approximately 10.3-acre portion (described by staff) is already cleared and could host active uses such as a pool.
The presentation framed the project as an early-stage, community-driven planning effort. Bowie described program goals — swim lessons, seasonal jobs, lap swimming and community access — and the commission's intent to scale amenities to the local context. "We want conversation to continue and see how we can make all these things work together," he said.
Residents and several councilmembers immediately pressed on safety and equity. Wendy Holmes and other speakers urged the county to coordinate with the state Department of Transportation and Charleston County on traffic mitigation measures at the Highway 17 intersection near the proposed site. "If you're going to invite more people to this concentrated area, particularly families and children, we need to make that intersection safer," one resident told the council, calling for reduced speed limits and potential signal or roundabout improvements.
County staff acknowledged the concern and said they would pursue technical studies and partnerships. The county representative also clarified limits associated with the Greenbelt grant: the Greenbelt-funded portion carries a four-acre impervious-surface cap and any intensified active uses on Greenbelt land would require compliance with the grant agreement and county-council approvals.
Planning officials and a resident planner also asked whether the site best serves underserved areas of East County, noting the county's planning maps showing pockets of greater need farther north. "If the intent is to truly serve the greatest amount of underserved people, it's not down here," a planning professional said, urging the county to consider alternate or additional locations and to factor transportation access into decisions.
Public commenters urged a pause to fully evaluate traffic safety, environmental impacts and long-term maintenance funding. A resident who addressed both Charleston County Council and Awendaw said Greenbelt's intent to preserve open space makes active development a different use and called for a comprehensive assessment before active recreation is added.
What happens next: County staff said the site is at an early conceptual stage and that further technical studies, traffic analyses and public input will inform a master plan. No final commitments about a pool, parking configuration or specific amenities were made during the meeting.
