A national treasure preserved

The long-awaited preservation of Morris Island is almost a reality, and the conditions of its sale will ensure that a national treasure remains unspoiled in perpetuity. More great news: A reduction in its price by owner Bobby Ginn will advance the purchase of nearby Long Island for conservation purposes.

As Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. notes on our Commentary page, credit is due to a wide range of public entities and private individuals. The cooperative effort for the preservation of the island reflects strong, unified community sentiment.

Particular credit should go to the Morris Island Coalition, a local group of historic preservation advocates and conservationists who have worked for years to keep the island unspoiled. Some of its members served on the steering committee that helped develop plans for its preservation, in conjunction with the Charleston Park and Recreation Commission.

The coalition includes representatives of the S.C. Battleground Preservation Trust, which believes the historic importance of the island should preclude any development there. The island was central to the defense of Charleston in the Civil War, and the site of a bloody battle involving the 54th Massachusetts Regiment — the first involving African-American soldiers in U.S. history. Casualties were extensive and soldiers were buried where they fell.

The island also provides habitat for endangered birds and plants. The purchase of Long Island would ensure a more extensive preserve in an area that has seen the pressure for development increase in recent years. The reduced price for Morris Island will free $1.5 million in local option half-cent sales tax revenue for the Long Island purchase. It would be money well spent.

A plan for Morris Island, now being refined by consultants for the PRC, is expected to recommend limited activity on the island, where there is now unregulated camping and use of all-terrain vehicles. The public's insistence on keeping the island in its pristine state, with no dock access, cited in a recent PRC survey as well as a separate petition to the agency, should guide the process throughout.

Though the land is being purchased and annexed by the city of Charleston, it will likely be administered by an agency such as the state Department of Natural Resources, Mayor Riley says.

Over the years, there have been proposals to develop the private tract of land at Cummings Point. In each instance, the idea has been sharply opposed by the public and their elected representatives. Until now, attempts to secure its preservation have fallen short.

Mr. Ginn's willingness to buy the land — and sell it at a loss — provided the breakthrough that the effort needed. The steadfast support of the Trust for Public Land, which has been involved in the long effort for its acquisition, is to be commended. The State Conservation Bank maintained its support for the purchase, with an allocation of $1.5 million, through several missed deadlines for its sale.

The final plan for Morris Island also will guide public use of the former Coast Guard Station at the northern tip of Folly Island, owned by PRC. The restoration of Morris Island Lighthouse, though a separate initiative, will complement those efforts. So, too, will the eventual acquisition of nearby Long Island. Together they will provide a rare contribution to the public realm — a pristine nature preserve within sight of city lights.