BySummer Huechtker|April 29, 2021 at 5:47 AM EDT - Updated April 29 at 5:47 AM
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) - Work to expand a Mount Pleasant recreation park is expected to begin later this year.
The town’s recreation department says they’re currently in the design process for the Carolina Park expansion. There are currently only recreational soccer fields at the park, which are used by the city’s recreational sports and Oceanside Academy.
The Carolina Park fields are off Faison Road, near Highway 17 behind Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital.
Last week, the town changed the name of the road directly leading to the fields from Recreation Way to Ben Marino Way. Marino donated the land to this park and has since passed away.
Phase Three of the project plans include adding a separate baseball field and a women’s softball field.
Recreation Director Steve Gergick says right now, the town doesn’t have any specific fields established for just softball.
The upgrade will be a high school regulation-sized softball field.
Phase Three also includes more than doubling the amount of parking spaces. Once complete, there will be more than 400 spots.
Gergick says Mount Pleasant has about $3 million in their budget for this work. A large amount of the budget is being used to raise the ground and improve drainage of the fields.
The goal is to begin construction in October or November of this year.
Gergick says there could be a fourth phase if funding allows. If that happens, Phase Four could add a dog park, a walking trail, a playground, and additional fields and outdoor courts.
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