Youth baseball league on Johns Island looking to build new complex
JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – A local youth baseball program on Johns Island has plans to expand so more kids can play ball, but they will need Charleston County's help.
"A lot of our kids have to go elsewhere to play other sports and that's what we're trying to do is just keep it here on Johns Island," said Todd Rieger who leads the Youth Umpire Program for the Barrier Islands Little League.
Barrier Islands Little League dates back to the 1950s and currently serves more than 600 players. The organization is looking to build a new complex off Main Road to accommodate even more kids.
"We've got some high dreams for the kids that will serve age four all the way up to 16 in Little League, and possibly American Legion, which is getting into more 17 to age 21," Rieger explained. "So, very exciting time for our community and for the kids to have a really nice complex to play in."
The nonprofit, Lowcountry Land Trust, requested over $1.6 million from Charleston County's Greenbelt funds to purchase 40 acres of land which would be transferred to the Barrier Islands Little League.
The money in the county's Greenbelt Program comes from a half penny sales tax approved in 2004 and then again in 2016.
"We rely heavily on our partners, nonprofits, municipalities. They apply for grant funding to acquire land and once they do that, then we place a grant agreement on it which protects that land," said Eric Davis, the Director of Greenbelt Programs for Charleston County.
Aside from the new baseball facilities, the proposed active and mostly passive park would include greenspace and hiking trails.
The Charleston County Finance Committee will consider making a recommendation to approve the request on Thursday which is one step in making the project a reality.
Rieger said they are still going to need help from a generous donor with what could be a $15-20 million total cost.
"Is that a lofty goal? Sure. But why not?" Rieger asked. "That's what we teach our kids, set goals, try to reach them."
County officials said the recommendation from the Finance Committee will go to full council for their approval.
