Shem Creek Park offers the Lowcountry an inviting new public outdoor space on our community's waterfront fishing district which is already busy with visitors from a town which likes to walk. On Saturday, Nov. 12, I visited Shem Creek Park for the first time. The new park is located on the west bank of Shem Creek, downstream from Coleman Boulevard and the Shem Creek Bridge, on the old OK Tire Store property. This addition to our community's public space cost more than seven million dollars, but it is being well received by the community. It's likely over the decades the town voters will consider it a wise investment.

The mainland part of the park consists of a small building with comfortable, modern bathrooms and storage.

There is some space available for rain shelter. Unfortunately no benches have been provided in the sheltered area. Other benches nearby are stylish, comfortable and oriented to maximize the view.

Two stops for the CARTA #401 East Cooper Connector bus are located nearby on Coleman Boulevard. One stop, on the northwest corner of Cottingham and Coleman Boulevard lacks a sign. Neither stop has a bench or shelter.

This parking lot can't possibly accommodate all the people who want to visit this park. It's time to bring transit access into the plan.

It's hard to explain why that wasn't done while the park was being constructed since returning to install benches and/or shelters for bus riders later is going to be more expensive than doing it as part of the park construction. However there is a marked crosswalk connecting the far side of Coleman Boulevard with the park. The traffic light has buttons to activate the pedestrian crossing signal. This also provides access for the nearby Cooper Estates subdivision, which unfortunately lacks sidewalks.

The park service building is simple, durable and uses durable, corrosion and rot resistant materials. It's clear that Mount Pleasant public works has figured out that stainless steel, treated lumber and anodized aluminum are cheaper than painting over time. The building breezeway frames the park harbor view dramatically. The parking lot has been finished with soft material to absorb runoff and keep leaking oil and car fluids out of our fishery.

The lighting fixtures in the parking lot are quite interesting. They evoke a maritime feeling and a bit of Christmas ornament elaborateness as well. Most of the park consists of a generously scaled and remarkably solid board walk. I walked the old docks here about two years ago. They had truly deteriorated to an alarming state of fragility.

The new boardwalk is marvelous. It's handicapped accessible all the way to a solid vehicle drop off area at the parking lot. Several disabled people were using wheelchairs to enjoy the park on Saturday.

The railings are tall and comfortable to lean on. Extensive cable lacing should keep children out of the mud and water, though it's still not tight enough to just turn them loose. A mesh enclosure below the railing would have been better, though not as attractive.

There is a least 2,000 feet of boardwalk at this park. It connects a small islet in the marsh with two docks which run to and along Shem Creek. The board walk includes two shelters and some large open areas surrounded by seating.

The southernmost shelter at the pier head takes visitors almost to the mouth of Shem Creek where views across and back up Shem Creek show a busy waterfront, now dominated with restaurants and upscale housing.

I was disappointed to see that all the promises about a youth sailing center at this new park had come to nothing.

The promise of such a center was one of the driving justifications for purchasing the property. It is unjust to spend more than seven million dollars of town money while ignoring the needs of 5,000 of it's citizens, aged 10 to 18.

The kids will find other things to do if they can't sail or boat on the harbor, but those lesser options will be our community's loss.

This oversight could be easily corrected with a ramp and small floating dock/boat storage facility located on the creek near the pier head.

The existing facilities are otherwise more than adequate to support that use. It should be installed and operating by summer.

Some historic and environmental interpretive stations can be added to increase it's interest.

It needs functional bus stops to serve it. There should be a youth sailing center. It is sure to become a valued part of our town's future.

William Hamilton (www.wjhamilton.com) is an attorney who lives in I'On Village. Check out his blog on at wjhamilton29464.