It took 15 years, a local referendum and $40 million just to get things started, but on March 17, officials with the Town of Mount Pleasant at last broke ground on Gary Santos Park. The facility not only honors a former town councilman but is expected to meet a growing demand for green space and recreational activities for generations to come.
“This new park is a huge opportunity for us,” said Mount Pleasant Recreation Director T.J. Rostin. “Tens of thousands of people use all of our 34 parks and park facilities in a year, but this one will be our most versatile.”
In addition to soccer/rectangular fields, tennis and pickleball courts, the 106-acre park is designed as a comprehensive recreation facility. It will utilize a two-court indoor gymnasium, replete with rooms for activities such as music, art, dance and camps, as well as playgrounds, picnic pavilions, walking and biking trails and support facilities.
Even though many other area parks offer the same amenities and uses, Town Communications Manager Eric LaFontaine pointed out that most are already “heavily utilized,” with field and court space often at capacity.
“Mount Pleasant continues to be one of the most active communities in the region,” LaFontaine said. “And with that comes increased demand for recreation space, programming and facilities.”
Part of the park will also provide an additional 39 acres for amenities and tree-save areas. Because of its central town location, LaFontaine added that the new park will be “more accessible to a broader portion of residents.”
“Rather than serving a single neighborhood, Gary Santos Park is positioned to support the town as a whole, helping balance usage across the system and provide additional space where it is needed most,” he said.
While the park’s completion is expected by fall 2027, its groundbreaking was a long time in the making. The land was originally purchased in 2010 in partnership with the Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission, but it wasn’t until 2016 that an initial masterplan was completed. The project then remained inactive until November 2022, when it was revived following inclusion in a voter-approved referendum.
When the project’s design kickoff meeting took place in September 2023, the park was finally on its way. The name honors former Mount Pleasant Town Councilman Gary Santos, whose time in public service was defined by a deep commitment to youth athletics, recreation and creating opportunities for future generations.
“Gary served the Town of Mount Pleasant as a member of town council for nearly 30 years,” said current Councilman Jake Rambo. “Throughout that time, he became known as a tireless champion for our recreation department. There is no one more deserving to have this park bear his name.”
It will serve a growing number of people, as the town’s population has so far more than tripled since 1989 and is expected to surpass the 100,000 mark before 2030.
Or to put it another way, as LaFontaine noted, the new park’s opening won’t come a moment too soon to support “everything from youth athletics to community programming and passive recreation.”
“Ultimately, the goal is to ensure residents have convenient access to safe, modern and well-maintained spaces that support quality of life,” he said.
By L. C. Leach III
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