New Public Pier on James Island

The 2.5-acre plot of waterfront property on James Island known as Sunrise Park is expected to undergo a few changes in the coming months, namely the addition of a pier.

The city of Charleston has budgeted up to $450,000 to build a 190-foot pier with a 20-foot by 20-foot pierhead and a 40-foot floating dock at the park, which was officially renamed Milton P. Demetre Park in 2000. The park is located on Wampler Drive near the James Island Yacht Club.

But parkgoers are split on whether the pier will make the park more enjoyable or take away from its quiet charm and air of solitude.

On one hand, the pier will afford a place in the park for anglers and crabbers and also give canoeists and kayakers access to the water.

“This is an opportunity to keep it a passive park and give the public some other options,” City Council- woman Kathleen Wilson told The Post and Courier.

Some residents, however, see the park as a sort of natural sanctuary that, if given a pier, would attract too many people

Wilson said the city is communicating with park’s neighbors about pier plans and efforts that will be made to prevent parking and traffic problems and to keep the park passive. Park hours — dawn to dusk — will be posted, she said, and police are being asked to patrol the area to keep it from be- coming a late-night hangout.