Parents, kids, outdoor exercise enthusiasts and dog owners alike – rejoice! The park we have all been curiously eyeing each time we come down the north side of the Ravenel is now open and ready for your next adventure. Since Mount Pleasant Waterfront Park opened in 2009, it has become one of the iconic locations that defines our town. Phase 3 of this project closes the book on what started back in 1999 as a simple ask.
Back then, the Grace Memorial and Silas Pearman bridges’ days were numbered, and plans were underway for the new Ravenel to change our skyline. The old bridges rose up at the very edge of the land and marsh, but the Department of Transportation’s plans for the Ravenel showed that it would touch down further onto the land, leaving a vacant waterfront area in its shadow. It was a space that piqued the interest of Mount Pleasant Council Member Gary Santos. In a Department of Transportation meeting, he asked if they would consider donating the land to the town for a park.
“The answer is always going to be ‘no’ until you ask,” Santos laughed. “So I asked. The SCDOT said to write them a letter, and I did the very next day.”
In his letter, Santos supported his request with the argument that few places on the Cooper River allow Mount Pleasant public access to the water. He explained that Alhambra Hall, while on the water, did not have access, and that Remley’s Point boat landing did have access, but was small and congested. “We desperately need better public access to the Cooper River as well as additional green spaces and passive parks for our citizens,” Santos’ letter stated.
It took a while because the bridge had to be completed before the park plans could begin, but 10 years later, in 2009, the first phase of the park opened. Over the 16 years that it has been open, the park’s iconic pier, war memorial, grassy open space, children’s play areas, Sweetgrass Pavilion and sweeping views have been the backdrop for countless gatherings, celebrations and memories.
Phase 3, which opened in June, brings even more opportunities for people to get out and enjoy the park and the great outdoors — and makes good use of the land underneath the ramps of the Ravenel. The newly open area features areas that can accommodate a wide range of ages, abilities and interests: two basketball courts, four pickleball courts, restrooms, a quarter-mile walking trail, an outdoor fitness zone with an obstacle course, a dog park with separate areas for small dogs and big dogs, a shaded pavilion, a splash pad and an inclusive playground.
“Memorial Waterfront Park has always been a special place for residents and visitors alike,” said Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie. “With these new amenities, we’ve made it even better. More inclusive, more active, more fun.”
Santos said that Phase 3 is the last phase of the project, putting a vibrant and exciting endcap on the project that began as a question to the SCDOT more than a quarter-century ago.
“What started as a simple question has turned into something greater than I ever imagined,” said Santos. “This park is more than trails, courts or playgrounds — it’s a symbol of what can happen when a community dreams big and follows through. It belongs to all of us: a place to gather, to move, to breathe and to enjoy the beauty of Mount Pleasant together. Families, friends, neighbors and visitors will continue to make memories here for generations to come. It’s proof that when you ask and when you believe, good things really do grow.”
By Anne Toole
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