Town leaders tout arts center as better idea than dog parkBy PRENTISS FINDLAY
The Post and Courier
Friday, February 1, 2008
CLICK TO ENLARGE MOUNT PLEASANT — A performing arts center for the planned Memorial Waterfront Park is a better idea than a dog park, Mayor Pro-Tem Kruger Smith said Thursday. "Maybe we can even get Calvin Gilmore to come down," Smith said. Gilmore is an entertainer who founded the popular Carolina Opry in Myrtle Beach. Five acres on the back side of the riverfront park were tentatively earmarked for a dog park. Smith said the town could retain ownership of the land but offer it to a company that might want to construct and operate a performance venue. "I think it would be a great idea," he said. Smith suggested a building to seat 1,000 patrons, which is about half the size of the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. Nearby hotels, medical facilities and parking make the location a good one, he said. In an e-mail to a dog park supporter, Mayor Harry Hallman said the 22-acre waterfront park is better suited to something like an arts center. "The options for a town that will one day approach 100,000 people are too varied to make that commitment (dog park) with such a valuable resource. Those options could include a performing arts center, for instance," Hallman said. He was not available for comment Thursday because he is recuperating from minor surgery. Hallman stressed in his e-mail that he is a dog lover but that the town has locations more suitable for a dog park. Smith suggested wooded acreage the town owns across from Hamlin Plantation. Town Council has committed to spending $14 million on the Cooper River park for a 1,200-foot-long pier, a war memorial, a sweetgrass pavilion, a visitors center and a playground. The land, donated by the state, is next to the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. Warren Pruitt, project manager with ADC Engineering, the park's designer, said the idea for a dog park grew out of public meetings to gather input on what residents would like to see. "It was a well-liked aspect of the park," he said. "It's all subject to Town Council direction." An amphitheater was another idea that came out of the public meetings about the park. Councilman Gary Santos, a dog park advocate, said that a performing arts center could be located at the suggested location for an amphitheater. "It's a win-win situation for everybody," Santos said. The town, which plans to open the park in 2009, is in the midst of final negotiations to acquire the park property from the state Department of Transportation. The town will pay about 75 percent of the cost of the park construction through tax increment financing. A state grant and hospitality and accommodations taxes will pay the rest of the park cost. A dog park opened six months ago at Palmetto Islands County Park on the north end of town. Dog park supporters argue that residents in the southern part of the city need a dog park too. "I really want a dog park there. I don't think I'm alone in that feeling. There are so many dog owners in Mount Pleasant," said Mary Ellen Barrett, who lives off Wingo Way near the planned park. "It's sort of the bait-and-switch part that I don't like. It just irritates me. It was part of the plan. It just doesn't make sense to me." Reach Prentiss Findlay at 937-5711 or pfindlay@postand courier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 19 comment(s)
Posted by charlestonnative68 on February 1, 2008 at 6:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let me get this straight, the people want a dog park and the council wants a performing arts center, I thought it was what the people wanted not what council wanted.
What would get more use? A dog park or an amphitheater? Looking at the drawing it looks as if they have accomodations for both.
Posted by chassand on February 1, 2008 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm shocked at this turn of events. But I really should not be...the mayor does as he sees fit with taxpayers' money after votes from the public for a dog park! I am so tired of this mayor and the council who lead based on choices made by a few and not the public they represent! Was that not the reason for the public meetings and input about the park to begin with???
Posted by abc123 on February 1, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not a dog owner, but I think that a dog park is much more logical option. When will a 1000 seat performing arts center ever get used? If there's a way to make money, they'll find it.
Posted by RTC on February 1, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What, no dog park? Then where are the mayor and council members going to romp and play?
Posted by sailaway on February 1, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's see.....1000 seats, so that's roughly 500 cars we need parking for....where?
Posted by Early on February 1, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here kitty, kitty, kitty.
I am appalled that a cat park has not even been mentioned. Where is the fairness in this? I demand some of this area be set aside for a cat park. There are just as many cat owners as dog owners. This is just BS I tell you, Just BS
Posted by wjhamilton3 on February 1, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We spent over a year in public meetings and forums allegedly planning this park. The two most demanded features were a place for the sweetgrass basket makers and a sailing center for the town. Charleston Community Sailing offered to design, build and operate the center at no cost to the town. It already operates a facility at the Ashley Marina for the High School sailing teams which can’t accommodate the number of high school teams we have. The town turned them down and ordered them not to show their plans to the public at an allegedly public meeting.
After a public uproar, the Town announced they would build their own sailing center. Two years later they announced they wouldn’t. If they had just said no in 2005, we could have gone forward on building a center with private/non-profit support elsewhere. Now two years have gone by and we’re back to square one.
The Hobcaw Yacht Club has apparently not even been officially approached about accepting the town sailing center. Their board hasn’t apparently discussed it. Most of the town thinks the sailing center has just been moved there.
I think a fine arts center for the Town is a wonderful idea, but it’s a big decision and the public planning process needs to be reopened to consider something like that. On the other hand, why should we bother when nobody listened last time? What is the purpose of these meetings, but to wear the citizens down? My son is now almost 16 years old and it’s becoming pretty clear he’ll never be able to use a town sailing center before he leaves Wando for college. He’ll share 12 boats downtown with 11 other teams and spend most of his time standing on the dock, waiting for his turn, because when it comes time to race because there aren’t nearly enough boats. Perhaps that’s why the Wando JV Sailing team is down to four members from 16 in September.
We’ve gone from a dog park, to some sort of private building, to an arts center which seats 150 to some sort of tourist oriented theater that seats a 1000 in a week. Nobody has asked the public what they think.
If you feel that the Town should keep its promise to our youth about a sailing center, our new effort Against the Wind- Save our Mt. Pleasant Sailing Center has its first meeting at O’Brion’s Pub on Wed. Feb. 6 at 6 pm. You can see all the details on our website www.wjhamilton.com/againstthewind/
Is this park going to be anything but a place for old men like those who control the Town of Mt. Pleasant?
Posted by Early on February 1, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
TP,,, that's funny
Posted by RTC on February 1, 2008 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
TP, then we should have a cat park in which council can play. Purrrr.....
Posted by lantanagurl on February 1, 2008 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wjhamilton...well said. Personally I couldn't care any less about a dog park. Dogs belong in your backyard, not where I am walking or playing. just my opinion. I like animals, but believe their place is NOT out in public. They are not little people.
As for a sailing center, what a perfect thing for this area. I'm not a sailor either. It just seems logical to me. An Ampitheater is a good choice, as well. Something that benefits the public at large is more appropriate than something that caters to a select group.
Posted by Early on February 1, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yea, 2 million dollar piece of real estate for dogs to poop!
Posted by guiffb on February 1, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As I have posted before, think where the runoff goes and what would be running off with a dog park there. An enviromental disaster to place a dog park at that park.
I cringe at James Island County Park.
Posted by Early on February 1, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
TP, and the dudes goes shrimp baiting right by it.
Tasty shrimp honey!!!
Posted by bigwhip on February 1, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Natter,natter,natter...our council blowing hot air over a dog park.$ 2 mil for dogs to poop on, what's to worry. Council paid $6 mil for $3 mil of dirt on Shem Creek. They brag of having the first millage increase in 12-14 years when they need to talk of decreasing taxes. We live good in Mt. Pleasant. HH and Kruger Smith are in lock step as usual. Kruger was the most concerned member about taxing and spending when first on council. He is 180 today.
Posted by RTC on February 1, 2008 at 3:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
latanagurl, why would you want to go to a dog park to walk?
That's why they call them dog parks. Not everyone has a backyard for their dogs to run around, and it's also a good place to meet and socialize with people whom share a common interest.
I bet you are not a native, and for those of us that are, we have been paying taxes here all of our lives, so we have a vested interest in how our money is spent.
We don't need a performing arts center.
Posted by RTC on February 1, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Another thing. A dog park does not have to cost that much money. Just fence off a small area, have a pooper scooper station, and post the rules. People that don't clean up behind their pets need to be shot.
There is no reason to put a load of money into a dog park.
Council always blows things out of proportion.
Posted by Strider on February 1, 2008 at 3:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with RTC. With a dog park lots of social things can happen. A dog park would have been a great place for the animals to run and socialize.
Posted by justtoday on February 1, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Isn't there somewhere else this 14 million could be used? I'm sure some of our schools could use the money. Or some roads could be fixed. Maybe we could use it towards the new jail. For some reason I think we need 14 million dollars for other things besides a dog park or an art center or is are economy doing better and i'm the only person who is having a hard time tring to survive in todays society.
Posted by moonpie on February 1, 2008 at 9:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
2 mil for a place for dogs to come and crap up the place?
I agree do something else with the land.
Let the dogs crap at the mayors house and then city councils!