Sports Bar in Summerville, SC

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) - Following over a decade of planning and months of delays, Dorchester County officially opened a new park designed with conservation and accessibility in mind.

Located off Miles Jamison Road, right in the heart of Summerville, Pine Trace Park is a $13 million investment years in the making.

The land was originally slated for residential development, with plans for up to 900 homes. However, when the developer went into foreclosure during the recession, only a pond remained on the land.

Recognizing the potential of the land, the county stepped in to purchase the property and reimagine it as a natural preserve and public park.

“Ultimately this was a repurposed pond that was dug as part of infrastructure well prior to the conversation about building these homes 15 years ago, but we were able to take that and turn it into something,” David Chinnis, Dorchester County Council Chairman and representative for District 2, said.

But that process has faced a series of setbacks.

Originally set to open in fall last year, the park faced delays caused by weather and supply chain disruptions.

“Mother Nature at times is smarter than any engineer ever thought about being and when they look at things and plan things and then get out and start doing the work, they realize it’s a little bit more complicated,” Chinnis said.

Chinnis understands the frustration over the delayed timeline, especially with schools in Dorchester County starting their semesters last week, but he emphasized that the extra time was necessary to ensure the space was ready and environmentally sound.

“We would’ve loved to have seen it open last fall. That was the initial goal. Doing it right was more important,” Chinnis said.

Now that it’s complete, Pine Trace Park brings several firsts to Dorchester County.

It is home to the county’s first intentionally inclusive playground, offering features that allow children of all abilities to play together.

Amenities include ramped play structures, transfer stations, a RoxAll seesaw, sensory-friendly wave climbers and cozy zones designed for children who may need a break.

The park also features Dorchester County’s first disc golf course, 5 miles of hiking trails, kayak rentals and launches, a pond stocked with bluegill and bass for fishing, fenced-in dog parks and reservable picnic shelters and event spaces.

Chinnis said the park’s natural feel is intentional, with minimal paved pathways and a design that prioritizes green space and natural features over infrastructure and development.

As a native of the Lowcountry himself, Chinnis said he remembers playing in the beautiful landscapes surrounding the area. He says rather than having pickleball courts and splash pads, like he’s heard some residents request, keeping the current atmosphere of the park is what makes it especially unique.

“It’s intentionally meant to be natural and not a developed park,” he said. “Over time, we may do some changes to that, but I think it’s intentional to be able to have this.”

He said this coincides with Dorchester County’s commitment to conservation.

“We’ve contributed $4 million to conservation with the State Forestry Commission and have preserved more than 3,000 acres… we’re not done yet,” Chinnis said.

Chinnis hopes families will come to enjoy the park’s natural beauty. For those interested in doing so, the ribbon cutting for the park is Thursday at 9:30 a.m.

Admission is free to the public for the day. Going forward, though, admission will be $2 for anyone over the age of three. County residents have the option to purchase an annual park pass for $42.

Go on vacation at a beach town in South Carolina. Check.

Buy lottery tickets, including several Powerball games for advanced, future draws. Check.

Watch the results of drawings into the next month. Check.

Triumphantly return to the Palmetto State in July to cash in a six-figure winning Powerball ticket and collect the prize. Check.

One man recently completed this unlikely checklist, narrowly missing out winning Powerball’s multi-million dollar grand prize, according to South Carolina Education Lottery officials. Still, what better way to commemorate a vacation then collecting a $150,000 Powerball jackpot as a consolation prize?

“It was fantastic,” the winner told officials. “It was like icing on the cake.”

The winner was vacationing at the beach in May, when he stopped on his way home to get gas at the Speedway on North Main Street in Summerville, officials said in a news release. He also bought a Powerball ticket for several future drawings, according to the release.

In July the man traveled back to South Carolina, to the claims center in Columbia, to cash in the ticket that came within one number of winning the Powerball grand prize on June 21.

The winning numbers in the June 21 drawing were 3, 16, 32, 52, 62 and Powerball: 24.

Because he purchased the Power Play option for an additional dollar, his initial $50,000 prize was tripled when the Power Play number was revealed to be 3, officials said.

The odds of matching four white ball numbers and the red Powerball number were 1-in-913,129, according to the release.

The man didn’t reveal any plans for spending his newfound windfall.

The winner is allowed to retain some privacy, as South Carolina is one of 11 states — along with Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas and Virginia — that allow lottery winners to remain anonymous.

For selling the claimed ticket, the Speedway in Summerville received a commission of $1,500, according to the release.

The jackpot for Monday’s Powerball drawing is $426 million, according to the game’s website.

Anyone looking to buy a ticket must make a purchase by 9:59 p.m. Monday for the 10:59 p.m. drawing. Tickets are $2, and could cost more with additional options.

The odds of winning Powerball’s grand prize are 1-in-293 million.

Cory Magwood enters the new school year having dropped the interim tag that was initially placed before his title.

Magwood grew up in Summerville but moved away during his middle school years. He went on to play football for Furman University and professionally.

Eventually, he returned to the Lowcountry, and in 2023, he was hired to head the Green Wave’s strength and conditioning program. He was named interim athletic director this past year and officially became Summerville High School’s athletic director in February. Under his leadership, Green Wave athletics continues to thrive, and he sees no reason for that to change.

“My goal is to continue strengthening our athletic programs’ shared belief in building a better school and community,” Magwood said. “We’re working together to unify all of our programs and our school under a common vision that values sportsmanship, school pride, academic excellence and competitive greatness.”

This summer, he worked with other Dorchester School District Two officials to hire four new coaches.

Carneal Hall now has Magwood’s former job as strength and conditioning coach. Michael Jenkins, a 1995 Summerville graduate, has been named the new head for the Green Wave boys basketball program. Jesse Gladis, who has served as the head coach of the school’s boys’ tennis team for the past several years, is expanding his responsibilities by taking on the boys’ swimming team. Lori Gladis is the new head of the girls’ swimming program.

The only head coach position still vacant at Summerville is the one for the boys’ soccer program. Magwood has confidence in the Green Wave coaching staff as the new school year fast approaches.

“I’m excited about the direction we’re headed and I know this year will be another step forward in creating something truly special for our students, families, and the entire Summerville community,” he said. “Our coaches are fierce competitors who demand excellence in every area on the field, on the court, and in the classroom. At the same time, they never lose sight of the bigger picture, instilling character, discipline and teamwork in the young men and women they coach.”