Town Project

Funding Source: 

$20K - Beach Preservation Fund

Funding Source:

$20K - Beach Preservation Fund

Funding Source:

$1.1M ( $157K Design & Permitting - Capital Projects Fund. City seeking $990K Grant from FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant for construction)

The City has initiated the fourth phase of a project to improve stormwater and tidal drainage across the island. This project is intended to make significant drainage improvements to Palm Boulevard, between 38th and 41st Avenue.

Funding Source:

Estimated $2M. Capital Projects Fund and FY25 State budget allocation

The City of Isle of Palms, in collaboration with Explore Charleston, the College of Charleston, and The McNair Group, is pursuing the development of a Community Enrichment Plan (CEP) using residents’ voices as the main driver of the process. The travel and hospitality industries are vital to the island's identity and economy.

Improving quality of life for residents is one of the main priorities anchoring the city’s Strategic Plan. Residents’ quality of life also plays a significant role in tourism’s success, and it is critical to the community's overall well-being. The city aims to maintain an equilibrium of these key elements for the longevity and prosperity of Isle of Palms.

With the guidance of The McNair Group and city staff, the Community Enrichment Plan will be constructed by the Community Enrichment Task Force. The Task Force, nominated by City Council, include various community members, including residents, business owners and tourism experts. The committee is responsible for developing recommendations to address livability and tourism management and facilitate community enrichment that will benefit the city continuously. 

Substantial community input and data will be collected to guide the city on how to productively deal with the complexities and challenges of regional population growth while ensuring Isle of Palms thrives as the most sustainable, family-friendly beach community in South Carolina. Data will be collected through surveys, focus groups and large listening sessions.

All collected data and insight will be used to outline recommendations for an ongoing plan that will create improvements that foster livability, sustainability and responsible economic development.

Community Listening Sessions

Date: May 29, 2024

Time: 10 a.m.

Location: Recreation Center (Magnolia Room)

Date: June 5, 2024

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Location: Recreation Center (Magnolia Room)

Questions about the Listening Sessions? Text "Hello" to (877) 607-6467 to get connected to a city staff member, or call (843) 886-6428.

You can also the City Calendar for upcoming Community Listening Sessions and Focus Groups.

CEP Task Force Members:

Unseasonal storm, tide conditions and cyclical changes to the north side of Breach Inlet have caused erosion leaving little to no dry sand beach and no dune along much of the area of the beach south of 3rd Avenue. The proposed dune repair project limits include repairing the dune along approximately ~1,500 lf of beach spanning between 114-304 Ocean Boulevard. Minor changes to the fill limits may occur.

The scope of work includes delivery, placement, and grading of 6,400 cy of beach compatible sand along project area. The dune design will generally consist of a 6’ tall dune, 15’ wide dune crest, and slope of ~1 on 4. The dune will tie into the existing escarpment.

The constructions cost of this project is $247,168. The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism has approved a grant to cover 50% of construction costs. 

As part of a long-term beach restoration strategy, the City plans to partner with the US Army Corps of Engineers on a beneficial use project anticipated to be constructed within the next 12 months that may provide over 200,000 cy of sand to the area, which will be more than sufficient to fully restore the dune and dry-sand beach over a longer period of time than a minor dune project.

As part of the City’s commitment to work toward full ADA compliance and its goal to exceed the standards and go above and beyond to ensure that people with disabilities feel welcomed in our community, City Council awarded a contract to IPW Construction Group, LLC to construct an ADA-compliant boardwalk at the 34A beach access path.

This project also includes the construction of two (2) handicap parking spaces on Palm Boulevard. 

The project will be cost shared between the City and grant funds from the Charleston County Greenbelt Program. 

The project will begin construction in November 2022 and is expected to be completed by next spring. 

The City of Isle of Palms plans to rehabilitate the two outdoor basketball courts and construct a pickle ball court at the Recreation Center, located at 24 28th Avenue.