<strong>By Jim Hicks</strong>

The new Beaufort County Coursen-Tate Park on Springfield Road has officially opened, giving Lady’s Island its first “full service” park. The area along Sea Island Parkway from the Lady’s Island Boat Dock to the Filling Station has been purchased and the city of Beaufort plans to demolish the existing buildings and transform it into a park with a dock. Property surrounding Crystal Lake has been purchased and plans have been approved to develop the area into a passive park. Most of these are the result of a great deal of work and planning over a long period of time.

What was not anticipated (at least by most) was the popularity of the pedestrian walkway over the new McTeer Bridge combined with the sidewalks and bike areas along Lady’s Island Drive.  The sidewalk, bike path and bridge walk has literally become a type of linear park in that each day it is seeing increased recreational use. In a time of decreasing public funds the duel use (transportation and recreation) of our roads, sidewalks and bridges is a common sense approach. Having said that, the parking area (not so designated, just evolved) near the bridge does need a bit of work to allow safe entry; the sidewalks need a little more effort to cut the grass; and perhaps even some trash receptacles along the sidewalks and in the bridge parking lot.

There really are no totally free lunches in regard to recreational facilities but some cost much less than others and the McTeer bridgewalk and adjoining Lady’s Island Drive appears to have such potential for a very small price.

<em>This article was originally published in the Lady’s Island Business Professional Association (LIBPA) newsletter.</em>