A new East Bay Park
Published on 5/4/2008
Two years ago, Georgetown residents rose up en masse to protest the idea of locating a new YMCA facility at East Bay Park.
"Save East Bay Park" bumper stickers were seemingly everywhere as city residents opposed the idea of bringing more traffic and people to the area.
The YMCA found a better location off Browns Ferry Road, and the hand-wringing stopped, along with promises to seek improvements for the park.
The best of all options for East Bay Park has appeared in the county's $90 million recreation plans -- finding a new place for the ball fields.
That will free acres of green space for all residents to enjoy.
Baseball and softball players will get improved places to play, too. The county will try to secure about 133 acres of land for the relocation of East Bay Park facilities in or near the city. Phase One of the project calls for the construction of an outdoor swimming pool, nine baseball fields, six tennis courts, two multi-purpose fields, a skateboard park, basketball courts and upgrades to existing facilities including the Winyah and Howard gyms.
Phase Two calls for more tennis courts and two more multi-purpose fields.
Most of the traffic from the boat landing at East Bay Park will be shifted to the new Carroll Campbell Landing below the Siau Bridge near Maryville, another benefit of the county's recreation plans.
When asked about East Bay Park by Times reporter Scott Harper, County Administrator Sel Hemingway said the land is not an appropriate place for the recreation facilities planned, which include a small campground for recreational vehicles.
Paul Gilbert of Genesis Consulting Group, the company who created the plan, said the goal is for the county to partner with a private entity to build and maintain the RV park, which mainly will be used by people attending baseball or fishing tournaments.
Altogether, the plan calls for about $24 million to be spent on recreation in the Georgetown area by 2025.
East Bay Park is already a busy place for family reunions and picnics on weekends. Its playground for handicapped children is one-of-a-kind in Georgetown County, and it has open spaces and tennis courts.
The city owns the park, even though the county has been operating the recreation program there for years.
The county's recreation plan provides the city an opportunity to think big at East Bay Park. Georgetown should think of its needs over the next 50 years.
With the county providing multi-million dollar facilities for active recreation, the city is free to go in other directions.
The ideas are exciting: amphitheater, water park, roller skating path, jogging trail, exercise stations, fishing pier, dog park, Frisbee golf course, beach volleyball courts, flower gardens. The list goes on and on, and none of those ideas include the discovery of Fort Winyah at the park or the possibilities of Morgan Park across the street.
The county is providing the City of Georgetown a golden opportunity to do something that will not only enhance the quality of life for its residents but attract tourists as well.
The ball will soon be in your court, City of Georgetown.
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All this for Georgetown, but yet Andrews is part of Georgetown County as well. I have lived here for 20 years, born and Raised, and there is NOTHING to do. and NO ONE is doing anything about it. And people wonder why the teenagers drink and drive and die in car accidents. If the county has so much money to spend, why do they need to spend it all on Georgetown. Couldn't they do some things for Andrews? Like Fix up Our Park? Maybe build a small skate park here, after all, there are many skaters here as well. I just think its one sided and always has been that Georgetown County, cares more about their Tourist attraction of Georgetown, than trying to make Andrews a better place. Posted by on 6/3/2008
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the Save East bay Park movment is not new. The city has been trying to sell it off for a long time. I headed a Dont Wreck the Rec drive around 10 years ago when The mayor wanted to sell it to some developers he was connected too and after getting thousands of signatures they backed off. East Bay Park is a Jewel along the east coast and the history connected with the park should be protected. East Bay Park should be developed into something for the people of Georgeown and the camping area discussed is for tourist and the Park is for the residents of georgetown. Put the campsites by the new boat ramp and keep the rec a place to do all the things like haveing picnics and outdoor events where you have a safe and clean area with a great family atmosphere. Dont turn the rec into a place for the real estate developers like the mayor and the rest of his buddies to make a buck on the back of the residents of Georgetown. Everyone needs to get loud so they dont WRECK THE REC Posted by rick Morris on 5/6/2008
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