Berkeley County opens portion of $10.5M waterfront park

Berkeley County opened part of the $10.5 million Berkeley County Waterfront Park on Friday with six boat ramps and 180 boat trailer parking spots open to the public.

The parking spaces include boat trailer spaces, make-ready spaces and tie-down spaces located at 933 Broughton Road in Moncks Corner.

“Opening Atkins Landing in advance of the park opening is critical to meet the demand of our boating community and to relieve the overcrowding at other landing sites. We are excited and look forward to opening the entire park very soon,” Johnny Cribb, Berkeley county supervisor, said in a news release.

The rest of the park is still under construction and is expected to be ready for the public after a June 12 grand opening ceremony, according to the release.

The 15-acre site eventually will include space for 36 boats to be docked, a 4,200-square-foot open air pavilion, a half mile walking trail, 58,000 square feet of beach and — after remodeling — the current 7,300-square-foot pavilion available for rent.

Facilities will include picnic shelters and benches, one public restroom, a Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Safe Boat enclosure, emergency call stations, and a security system with free Wi-Fi.

Funding for the project is from Berkeley County Delegation’s Water Recreation Funds, Berkeley County Accommodations Tax Funds, South Carolina state budget appropriations, and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the release said. Santee Cooper has also provided a long-term gratis lease to Berkeley County for the project.