It was a pleasant fall afternoon as law enforcement officers, elected officials and members of the community gathered for a dedication ceremony led by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office on Friday, Nov. 9, to formally announce the opening of the Coursen Tate Park on Lady’s Island.

[caption id="attachment_8868" align="alignleft" width="199"]<a href="https://actionclub.site/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/News-Coursen-Tate-Park-1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8868" title="News-Coursen Tate Park" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/News-Coursen-Tate-Park-199x300.jpg" alt="" width="199" height="300" /></a> A plaque honoring the two fallen officers hangs at the park. At right is the widow of Lance Corporal Tate.[/caption]

The park is named for Corporal Dyke “A.J.” Coursen and Lance Corporal Dana Lyle Tate, who were shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance on January 8, 2002. Both men lived on Lady’s Island with their families at the time of the shooting.
Speakers at the ceremony included Beaufort County Council Chairman Weston Newton, Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner, Beaufort County Council Vice-chairman Paul Sommerville and family members of the fallen officers.
The new park is located at 10 Springfield Road, just off Sams Point Road. It includes a playground, baseball fields, multi-purpose fields and a covered picnic pavilion.