Moncks Corner recreation complex still not ready to open

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – For over a year, if you have driven down Main Street, you have noticed some construction going on behind Delta Pharmacy. That construction is for the town’s Regional Recreation Complex. The complex will include a baseball diamond, football/soccer fields, tennis courts, area for a farmer’s market and a complex itself.

There is an opening day ceremony scheduled for May 29, but while the ceremony will continue, the center will not be completed nor will the ceremony’s location.

Due to the weather we have had some delays, the ice storms and many rains storms have made conditions unworkable, said Bill Peagler, mayor of Moncks Corner.

In fact, the weather has been the city’s major obstacle the mayor said.

“We wanted to open last August, but the massive rain held us back and we cannot work when it is raining, said Peagler.

The complex, which is set to be 50 acres, is being funded by the city’s hospitality tax.

“We were bounded seven million dollars based on the hospitality tax, which is a two percent tax, and that handles debt services on the building. So when people go out eating in Moncks Corner, they are helping pay for the complex,” said Peagler.

Peagler also says that funding is also determining when the complex will be 100 percent finished.

“Completion is depended on funding, obligated hospitality tax for purpose of funding and first phase, but we have also had a downturn of businesses coming to donate funding for phase two,” he said.

One way the city is going to try and raise money for the complex is to hold a BBQ cook-off, tentatively for Nov. 8.

“The cook-off will have $15,000 in prize money and will bring a multitude of new people in the city who will have to eat somewhere, which will contribute to the funding for the complex,” said Peagler.

The regional complex has three phases of construction, phase one is a baseball diamond and football/soccer fields, phase two are tennis courts, phase three is the complex itself and there is a phase 1.5 which is a farmer’s market.

“We saw an opportunity to bring in more traffic to Moncks Corner, as well as work with the local farmers,” said Peagler. “Moncks Corner’s current farmer’s market is in a gravel lot across from Gulledge Street with only a few vendors.”

When the complex is ready to open to the public, Peagler believes it will fill a much-needed void in Moncks Corner.

“Not only does it bring more people into town, but it provides downtown revitalization and helps those who cannot go to Lion’s Beach (where the town’s current public arena’s are) to participate in sports that will now be right down the street,” said Peagler.