From gaining national recognition to expanding environmental, recreational and economic opportunities, the Town of Mount Pleasant heads into the new year a stronger and more prosperous community. In this Year in Review, with the help of Town Administrator Eric DeMoura, we’re highlighting the Town of Mount Pleasant’s most noteworthy accomplishments of 2023.
Greening Up the Environment
In March 2023, the town council established the Mount Pleasant Green Space, Environment, Ecology and Natural Resources (GREEN) Commission to address conservation, natural resources, flood resilience and green space.
The Town of Mount Pleasant also adopted Low-Impact Development regulations for commercial developments. The LID rating is based on a points system calculated over four categories: conserving natural water resources, protecting ecosystem biodiversity, improving community livability and promoting energy efficiency.
Eric DeMoura Town Administrator on Mount Pleasant Podcast
The Take Root Program, which began in May 2021 as a community-wide tree planting initiative to encourage residents to actively participate in beautifying the community, expanded in 2023 with a mission to preserve existing canopy and promote new tree canopies.
Mount Pleasant Composts, a new initiative to encourage residents to compost, kicked off in May 2023. After registering through the City of Charleston, the town’s partner for this initiative, residents can bring food scraps to compost at three locations around town.
Accommodating Citizen Needs
From September 2022 through April 2023, the town held a series of “Public Input Matters” meetings to encourage dialogue and define the unique challenges and character of the different parts of the town. The information gleaned during this process will help inform the next update to the Town of Mount Pleasant’s 2019-2029 Comprehensive Plan, slated for 2024.
Also in April 2023, the Town of Mount Pleasant was designated the Lowcountry’s first certified Autism Friendly Town by Just Bee, a local nonprofit created to connect neurodivergent families with their communities. In partnership with Just Bee, the town committed to further educating citizens on the signs, symptoms and best practices for accommodating individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Through Just Bee’s educational programs, Mount Pleasant businesses can become autism friendly designated businesses. Once recognized as such, a seal depicting the Just Bee logo is placed in the window to alert neurodivergent community members and families that it is considered a “safe space.”
Over the past several years, the town has partnered with WakeUp Carolina, a recovery community organization serving the greater Charleston area. Together with WakeUp Carolina and the local police department, the Town of Mount Pleasant proclaimed Aug. 31 Overdose Awareness Day. The “Light the Way for Hope” event commemorated and honored those who have lost their lives to overdose. In addition, WakeUp Carolina, the Charleston Center and the Mount Pleasant Police Department began holding monthly community overdose prevention and Narcan training at town hall.
Improving Infrastructure and Transportation
After years of strategic planning, preparation and construction, Vaughn Ed Kee Parkway opened to the public on Nov. 1, 2023. The new parkway, connecting Rifle Range Road and N. Highway 17, was named in honor of Mount Pleasant police officer Vaughn Ed Kee, who lost his life in the line of duty in 1985. The completion of Vaughn Ed Kee Parkway and the groundbreaking on Mount Pleasant Way in 2023 represent a significant milestone in the town’s commitment to improving local infrastructure and enhancing transportation networks.
Speaking of networks, fire agencies from Mount Pleasant, Charleston, North Charleston, Isle of Palms, St. Andrews Public Service District, James Island Public Service District and St. John’s Fire District are now part of an automatic aid agreement that aims to expand emergency fire services in the area. Launched in 2022 and expanded in 2023 to include the Isle of Palms, the agreement states that the closest appropriate fire unit will respond to an emergency regardless of the municipality or service district.
As 2023 comes to a close, construction is almost complete on Carolina Park Recreation Complex Phase III. The project includes four additional fields, two outdoor multipurpose courts and more amenities including additional parking. Moreover, the planned expansion of Memorial Waterfront Park, expected to be completed in July 2024, will include several new features such as a splash pad with a water tower feature, a quarter-mile walking and biking trail, multipurpose sports courts, a restroom facility, dog parks, overflow parking, a calisthenics area and more. Another new, centrally-located recreation complex, Rifle Range Road Park, is currently in design.
Financial Stability
The Town of Mount Pleasant maintained its AAA (S&P) and Aaa (Moody’s) bond ratings in 2023, a testament to the town’s strong financial position and steadfast commitment to fiscal responsibility. Additionally, the town’s finance staff received recognition from the Government Finance Officers Association for the 34th consecutive year for their Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The budget office was also recognized with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the GFOA for the 10th year.
Keeping Business Booming
The town became home to many new businesses in 2023. Of those, 23 celebrated their opening with ribbon-cutting ceremonies, which bring together local business owners, the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce and Mount Pleasant Town Council members to promote growth in our business sector.
Mount Pleasant also welcomed an innovative business center in 2023, the Harbor Entrepreneur Center. The center creates an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Charleston region. With support from the Town of Mount Pleasant, the 38,000-square-foot facility provides a collaborative space and houses over 50 high-growth companies.
A Model of Excellence
For the third time, the Town of Mount Pleasant was named an All-America City by the National Civic League in 2023. The town’s motto for this year’s presentation was “Together We Weave,” incorporating the local art of sweetgrass basket making. The delegation, represented by community members, illustrated how Mount Pleasant weaves diversity into the community by promoting programs that accommodate neurodivergent people and their families. The group also highlighted how Mount Pleasant prioritizes youth mental health and weaves bonds of trust with its residents by investing in programs designed to foster relationships between police officers and young people.
Of all the important accomplishments the Town of Mount Pleasant celebrated in 2023, DeMoura is most excited about the 2023 All-America City Award because it is the most prestigious award a local government can receive and serves as validation that the efforts the town is making today will positively impact generations to come. “In Mount Pleasant, we work hard to protect and improve this wonderful community,” explained DeMoura. “To me, winning the All-America City Award is an acknowledgment that, while our work is not perfect, we are on the right track.”
By Isabel Alvarez Arata
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