Mount Pleasant, SC - Just in time for the holiday, Mount Pleasants new memorial waterfront park will open beneath the Ravenel Bridge and many say its something the town has needed for a long time.

"We're almost an island but lets face it, unless you live on the water theres relatively little water access for the public and this is gonna really go to great lengths to address that," Mount Pleasant Town Administrator Mac Burdette said.

Big crowds are expected for fridays opening celebrations.

"Three bands are on the pier; The Charleston Community Band, a jazz trio out here, jump castles for the kids, lots of food," Burdette said.

The 14 acre, $15 million project is the most ever spent by the town and the design project manager cant wait to see the publics reaction to the great lawn.

"That's probably the most striking characteristic of the the whole park,” Warren Pruitt with ADC Engineering said. "The architecture of the visitors center is much more traditional with the sweetgrass pavilion and then when you actually get out to the pier it transitions to a much more contemporary flavor to blend with the bridge."

And the pier, complete with swings and a snack bar is now the largest in the Lowcountry.

When you come to the end of the pier you are right in the middle of Charleston Harbor. On one side you can see Remleys Point and on the other side you have an awesome view of the USS Yorktown and above is a covered pavilion that will be used for a variety of events.

"There will be dances on Friday nights. There will be fishing tournaments for kids, for adults.”

The park has a new playground for kids, but it also a purpose and the war memorial will be unveiled on Sunday.

"Seventy-four young men gave their lives since the country was created from Mount Pleasant, so we can enjoy places like this and freedom, so you cant forget that.”

The opening celebration starts friday at 6:30 p.m.

Parking will eventually cost 50 cents an hour, but will be free for the next couple of weeks.

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