Patriots Point forum garners public suggestions

People who came out to an open house at Patriots Point last week offered suggestions about how to improve the Mount Pleasant military attraction.

They ranged from pleas not to put the Statue of Liberty's mate in Charleston Harbor to recommendations to build a pier where visiting naval ships or mega-yachts could dock.

The Patriots Point Development Authority and the firm developing its master plan, AECOM (formerly Glatting Jackson), held the forum at Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park. Patriots Point Executive Director Dick Trammell said guests left their comments, which ranged "from the humorous to the very serious," on a dry erase board.

"Several people had written that they wanted more water access and felt this was the ideal place for it," Trammell said.

"People want to see increased transportation between Patriots Point and the city of Charleston," he said.

Several people suggested turning another pier into a place where ships could dock and generate revenue for the attraction, according to Trammell.

"Someone said 'no Laddie Liberty' as you might have expected," Trammell said. "The humorous was someone said put a statue of freedom with Stephen Colbert's face on it."

Trammell said he met with AECOM planners the day after the forum and that the team already had reviewed the suggestions.

Those included discussions of creating a greenway around the Patriots Point's waterfront property

Trammell said he expects to have a finished plan for the 455-acre complex by late spring or early summer.

The attraction will pay AECOM $300,000, plus up to $30,000 in expenses, for the work.

"We have been here for 35 years now and have never had a comprehensive master plan," Trammell said.

"In some ways, that is very good, because we have virtually a blank canvas to work with," he said.

Suite-ness

The Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce named Holiday Inn Express-Summerville the 2009 Business of the Year.

The chamber honored the hotel for its participation in tourism events, including setting up "Come Visit Summerville" marketing opportunities at state welcome centers.

The Holiday Inn earned the distinction at the chamber's annual Gala and Membership Meeting held at Bud Knight's Party Barn.

Reach Allyson Bird at 937-5594 or abird@postandcourier.com.