A brand-new park opened in Goose Creek on Friday with the focus of being “a park built for everyone.”

GOOSE CREEK, S.C. (WCSC) - A brand-new park opened in Goose Creek on Friday with the focus of being “a park built for everyone.”

The $9 million project, Central Creek Park, hopes to be inclusive towards everyone with volleyball and basketball courts, a splash pad, a food truck pavilion and pickleball courts.

Over 26,000 square-feet, ‘Debra’s Playground’ will offer a wide range of accessible activities for people with physical or visual disabilities. The surfacing is all wheelchair accessible, and the equipment is based on sensory items for everyone to enjoy.

Families who include children with disabilities were the first invited to play at the park after this morning’s ribbon cutting. Nicole Valentine, mother to her special needs daughter, says other parks have never really been concerned about including all the different aspects of sensory play before.

“It’s never really kept in mind the heart of all children to be fully inclusive, and even down to having the fence around for those kids who love to run,” Valentine says. “It’s very important and it does so much for parent’s safety concerns to be able to just come here, and you almost get a little bit of relief watching your children play and not be so stressed out.”

The City of Goose Creek hosted a tribute to the donors of the park ahead of the ribbon cutting ceremony. Goose Creek Recreation Director Crystal Reed addressed the city and sponsors after working for months on the development.

“Central Creek Park sets our community apart and creates opportunities to remove barriers, increase self-esteem, develop community culture where everyone benefits from health, fitness and social connections,” Crystal says. “Thousands of children and adults across Berkeley County of all abilities have benefited from our therapeutic recreation program over the past several years; because of you, we just raised the bar with Central Creek Park.”

Parents of children with special needs say that it means the world to them to see their children experience a park they can truly enjoy. Kathy Kackley, parent to Trista Kutceher, travel the U.S. together promoting inclusivity in parks and compared other parks to Central Creek Park.

“There’s something here for everyone; there’s something here everyone can do,” Kackley says. “We like to be inclusive in our play and in our life, and we are very appreciative that Goose Creek has stepped up and has a place for everybody to play together.”

Goose Creek Assistant Recreation Director, Nicole Herrera Murray, explains how the city worked to choose specific pieces of equipment for special needs children to use. After planning and researching for months, she says Friday was a dream come true.

“I’ve been dreaming of this day for a really long time. It’s really amazing to see everyone enjoying and hearing the screams behind us is just everything that I’ve ever wanted,” Murray says.

The public is invited to join in on the fun Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. or Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 47 Old Moncks Corner Rd.

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Like a pounding rain that begins with a trickle. it all starts with some random whistles, snaps and pops in the late afternoon. But as the sun sets, bright flashes and booms follow in an endless cacophony that will continue for hours.

Some like it; some don’t.

For five days out the year, Goose Creek allows fireworks to be set off. Those days are Independence Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

At the May 9 council meeting, residents hit the podium hoping elected officials may ban the booms altogether.

“Fireworks pose a fire hazard to homes, including those with asphalt shingle roofs. For the safety of all Goose Creek residents, consider prohibiting personal use fireworks within the City of Goose Creek,” said resident David Driggers.

“I’m here tonight to ask your consideration making Goose Creek a no fireworks zone. ... For the safety of my property, my neighbors and the city, please take this request seriously,” said resident Judy Fox.

“The noise is a nuisance to other residents. There is a danger of a fire being started and the danger of property damage. ... Additionally, the fireworks are stressful for our many residents who are veterans and served in war zones,” said Cynthia Curry, who has lived in the city since 1978.

Residents who want the fireworks to stop said they have gone to Crowfield’s Home Owners Association several times and were eventually told to make the request to City Council. But others showed up at the meeting to support the existing rules.

“There may be people who have PTSD. I’m a veteran. I’ve got 24 years in and out of combat zones. ... Lets be careful to bring the veterans out as the reason to stop having freedoms. Most of us put our lives on the line for those freedoms we celebrate on the 4th of July and other holidays,” said resident Mike Conner, an Air Force Veteran.

“I think it’s a fundamental freedom. I’m a bicentennial baby, conceived on that night. I am a very fervent supporter of fireworks, just like (Thomas) Jefferson and (John) Adams,” said Heather Burns.

Those forefathers would be happy to learn that cities such as North Charleston allow fireworks year around up until 10 p.m.

Other municipalities, however, have banned personal fireworks. Some of those include Myrtle Beach, Sullivan’s Island and Folly Beach. Comments from Goose Creek residents were made during the public discussion portion of the meeting. There is no official movement to change the local fireworks ordinance.

“We haven’t as a council openly discussed it. But as far as what they are asking for, we already have two ordinances that cover it,” said council member Melissa Enos. “One ordinance says it can’t be in the city except for five days a year, and the second ordinance is for projectiles.”

The projectile ordinance states that if a firework lands on another property, it is a code violation, which in some cases covers property damage. Enos said she understands the concerns of those wanting them prohibited. Under the current ordinance, that is the case 360 days a year.

“The two ordinances that exist now gets them like 97-percent there. I think what they are asking for is to get them 100 percent there,” she said. “We try not to over regulate and over govern.”

GOOSE CREEK, S.C. (WCIV) — Tonight, the City of Goose Creek is expected finalize its plans for a new 300-unit apartment complex coming to Henry Brown Boulevard, as the city’s Board of Architectural Review will make its final recommendations to the developers for adjustments.

The complex will take up 24 acres adjacent to Henry Brown Blvd. With 10 three-story buildings surrounding a central pond. The complex will include amenities such as a dog park, pedestrian walkway and a five-story garage.

Read More: City of Goose Creek board to review plans for 300-unit apartment complex

However, it has been a long time coming to get to this point. The conceptual design was initially approved over a decade ago. The development is zoned under a “Pre-Existing Development” which outdates projects which were approved by the current city council and Goose Creek Mayor Greg Habib.

But with the population in goose creek growing by over 25 percent over the past decade, the main concern for residents is making sure the infrastructure is in place to fit the current state of the city.

“I feel that we're kind of at the mercy of the builder at this point, because they were approved so long ago, before the vision of what it should be for Goose Creek. So, anything that the [Board of Architectural Review] recommends or anything like that, it's kind of limited what they can do,” Goose Creek Resident Eric Bennett said.

How a new 300-unit apartment complex will shake up the Goose Creek area in the future. (WCIV)

“I really think that the city council, I think that the mayor is working with these builders and talking to them, and seeing how they can come to some middle ground and anytime that you're able to communicate, anytime that people are willing to meet in the middle, then everybody wins," Bennett continued.

Since the project was approved already the BAR can’t stop or reject the apartment complex from being built. The board of architectural review will make recommendations including lighting, signage and elevation at tonight’s meeting.

But the question for a lot of residents remains how those in charge will handle the project which was approved in a very different Goose Creek than we are seeing today.

There are already some changes in the works as the city has is nearly two years into their project to expand a portion of Henry Brown Blvd. from a two lane road to a four lane road.

Read More: Does Goose Creek need more apartments? Leaders, community members weigh in

The bigger concern for residents is the infrastructure around the building, with one of the key elements being storm water management. This has been a problem for the city and greater Berkeley County area for a while, especially after we saw flooding impacts from Hurricane Ian and Tropical storm Nicole hit those areas.

While some say the complex isn’t a negative for the city, residents do say they want to see the right steps made in the implementation of this new building to fit into the city’s current structure.

“The challenge that you have, though is where does the money come to get that infrastructure put in place? And the answer to that is to the growth, right? Putting these projects and the impact fees that come from these projects towards that infrastructure, the tax revenue, and everything else from the property taxes and stuff is what's going to drive the ability to improve that infrastructure,” Bennett said.

Read More: Proposed plans for downtown Charleston apartment complex causes controversy

In a statement provided to us from the City of goose creek officials says in part quote:

All stormwater requirements required by the county will be in place for these or any developments.

But there was no statement on whether the city or county as a whole would plan to change any of those with the new building in place. It is important to note most of the Stormwater Management or external infrastructure management comes from Berkley County and not the city of Goose Creek.

City officials also said developers now need to have any new apartment complex approved by the current mayor and council for full approval. Something which was not in place when this complex was approved.

The city's Board of Architectural Review meeting is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m.

GOOSE CREEK, S.C. (WCSC) – The city of Goose Creek hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday afternoon as construction begins on the new Joseph S. Daning Amphitheater.

Although the Daning Amphitheatre will not open until the fall of 2024, members of Goose Creek City government, including Mayor Greg Habib, are already emphasizing the impact the new entertainment venue will have on the city.

“You can learn a lot about a city based on the emphasis it puts on the arts,” Habib says. “The arts can separate good cities from great cities, and separate great cities from destinations; this project is but the latest in our commitment to art in Goose Creek.”

Costing just under $4 million, the amphitheater can seat 800 people and will be located at the lake behind City Hall, beside the City’s Recreation Complex.

The city announced last August that the amphitheater will be named after former S.C. Rep. Joe Daning, who was a Goose Creek City Council member for over 20 years.

“I can’t tell you how much this amphitheater will provide a wonderful event space for all types of cultural happenings in the Goose Creek community for many generations,” Daning says. “And for me, and I know for a lot of folks, it’s a dream come true.”

Habib says the entertainment space will redefine what it means to grow up in Goose Creek and be a testament to arts in the city.

“We are enriching our hometown expanding our horizons and making an impact beyond our borders and moving our world,” he adds. “Ladies and gentlemen, this amphitheater is going to redefine what it means to grow up in Goose Creek.”

Cultural Arts Commission Vice Chairperson Libby Roerig also says that the structure will increase the quality and quantity of performance arts in the city.

“The amphitheater will mean more cultural events and programs, more concerts, more poetry nights, more dramatic performances, more movie nights, more special events,” Roerig says. “More opportunities for more kids to take part in and to take in performing arts in Goose Creek.”

The amphitheater will take 18 months to complete following Tuesday’s groundbreaking and will be built by Trident Construction.

The Middleton Group Architects and Baker Engineering LLC are also partners on the project.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Officers from the Goose Creek Department along with investigators from the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) are investigating possible human trafficking involving minors inside a home in the Boulder Bluff subdivision.

Information provided shows that officers were first notified by DSS on Jan. 27. The incident report shows the person suspected, allowed juveniles to live in the home. The report alleges there is drug use and prostitution inside the home as well as at other locations.

The incident report did not show any arrests made in the case at the time and it did not identify the home where the alleged activity was occurring.

Recently the state AG’s office released new numbers on the amount of human trafficking in the state. The office is one of several that make up the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force consists of numerous agencies and advocacy groups all over the state.

The latest report showed a rise in sex trafficking. The numbers also showed that there has been 458 percent increase in labor trafficking. Locally Berkeley and Charleston Counties has a share. Berkeley has three trafficking cases pending in court and Charleston had 14 incidents in 2022.

Also the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division reports the agency supported 416 cases involving human trafficking in the state in 2022. The cases included 399 minor victims, the report showed. There was also a 128 percent increase in calls to the hotline reporting suspected incidences.

Kathleen “Kat” Choate’s geese are flying down Saint James Avenue in Goose Creek this week in a “banner event” for the local artist and her contest-winning watercolors.

A Goose Creek resident for nine years, Choate earned the high-visibility spot as a result of a recent contest, one of several the city sponsors in an ongoing effort to support the arts. While Choate’s vibrant rendition of the town’s namesake bird flies in banner form along the busy thoroughfare, another version of it can be found on one of the city’s sanitation trucks.

Choate is a Connecticut native who studied at Southern Connecticut State University but focused on art education only in her elective classes. She originally worked in charcoal, acrylics and pastels.

“I’ve been focusing on watercolors for three years,” she said. “I love being able to let go of my control, to let the colors move around and surprise me. I try to embrace those times when it doesn’t do what I intended or if I get ‘blooms.’ I think those little surprises add to the paintings.”

A “bloom” is a term for the spontaneous paint blossoms that occur in watercolor work due to its high liquid content.

“I’ve noticed the city of Goose Creek doing a lot to supports the arts, and I greatly appreciate it,” she said. “Painting is my happy place and my stress relief. I typically gravitate towards painting things that make me happy and I love using bright colors.”

Several other area artists have their work along Goose Creek’s Red Bank Road.

Viewers can also find Choate’s art at her website, KChoateArt.square.site, as well as on Facebook and Instagram at @kchoateart.