The Beaufort County Open Land Trust (BCOLT) purchased and renovated the Blocker General Store on Sea Island Parkway, which is now leased long-term by Carolina Cider Company (CCC). The property serves as the gateway into Saint Helena Island and is the thruway to the Sea Islands. It has a striking vista over the Cowen Creek marsh, and would be the ideal place for visitors and residents to stop, take a walk, reflect, and purchase food and other items from the Cider Company. If CCC allowed park visitors to use their restrooms it would eliminate that cost and maintenance concern, and should increase business for CCC. Citizens would use the park for daily walks and appreciating nature on Saint Helena Island. Subject to the deed, a park must have no appreciable impact on the view along the marsh - no structures or buildings.
The purpose of this petition is to generally gauge the amount of public support for a low impact Health Park at the site, which would consist of an ADA compliant path with distance markers, rest benches and a small amount of additional parking, so as not to interfere with CCC store operations. Obviously, further details would need to be worked out if BCOLT were to facilitate such improvements to the property as a passive park.
When you sign the petition leave comments saying why you are FOR or AGAINST.
Funding for the passive Health Park at Cowen Creek could be from available BCOLT operating funds, as well as commercial and personal contributions to BCOLT, which is a 501C3 organization.
This property was NOT purchased under the Beaufort Courty Rural and Critical Land Preservation Program, and was deeded by the Blockers to BCOLT as Open Land into perpetuity.
