Construction pauses for Sullivan’s Island nature trail amid controversy with residents

SULLIVANS ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD)- Construction for a revitalized nature trail on Sullivan’s Island has been put on pause.

The decision comes after town leaders say residents have been frustrated with the lack of communication during the construction process.

The plan is to expand the length and width of the current nature trail, to connect stations 16 to 18 1/2. Construction on expansion started June 11 before being paused.

Allison Bourlan lives right next to the start of the nature trail and says she’s not a huge fan of the changes the town is making, mainly because she didn’t know it was happening.

“The more I learned about it the more I learned nobody knew much about it,” Bourland said.

The town started building a new path on the existing nature trail, connecting Fort Moultrie and the lighthouse.

Other updates included adding benches and making the trail ADA-accessible.

Bourland said she’s not against the ideas, but the lack of communication from the town before construction began frustrates her.

“We never got any letter or anything from the town that this was being built,” Bourland said.

She’s also concerned about safety, as the public path is a few steps away from her back door.

“This feels a little scary to have a path that’s behind us that just leads right to our house. We can’t really see who is coming until they’re actually here,” Bourland said.

These issues were addressed by island leaders in their last land use and natural resources meeting, saying it’s been a project in the works for years, discussed as early as 2012.

Leaders say the community had plenty of opportunity to express concerns at public meetings.

“It had to come from the strategic plan which had to be approved in all of the public meetings. It also was approved by the town council which is also a public meeting,” one member of council said.

Leaders claim they did their part to inform the public and say those who feel misled, just haven’t been paying attention, “If you don’t know whether you’re misinformed or you misrepresent the truth, and the town is to be admired for the effort and the time.”

Sullivan’s Island Town Council is holding a special meeting on Wednesday where they plan to pass a resolution that will back their support for the construction of the trail to continue.