Mt. Pleasant, SC - The issue of charging for parking on Mount Pleasant's side of the Ravenel bridge is still on the table.

Town council held a public hearing Tuesday night about a parking fee for the new Memorial Park. While no one showed up to speak out, some walkers on the Ravenel bridge today say they don’t want to pay.

Bridge walkers and runners who could soon park at the new memorial park parking lot may have to cough up some dough.

“A fifty cents per hour parking fee, not unlike what you’d see at the Isle of Palms if you want to go to the beach,” Town Administrator Mac Burdette said.

The $14 million park is set to open in July and some town officials say they need the money to keep the park running.

“This money will be used to pay for the maintenance and operation of the park, to include police officers being present throughout the whole time the park is open, somebody’s got to pay that,” Burdette said. 

Some town officials are hopeful the seeing the new park finished will convince those opposed to paying to park that’s its worth it.

Town council had already voted and passed this for the first reading. It has to pass two more times before it gets final approval. The park will have more than 200 parking spots. If council finalizes the fee, a kiosk system will be set up at the site.

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