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MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCSC) - The Town of Moncks Corner and Berkeley County are partnering up to create a new park for the community to enjoy.

The town and county have purchased two pieces of land, totaling about five acres, on Epson Plantation Drive for the park.

The property features several live oak trees that are hundreds of years old, which officials say will now be protected forever.

The town and county are splitting the $1.2 million cost for the land. The county is using greenbelt funds from the one-cent sales tax referendum passed by voters in 2022 to fund its portion, while the town is using federally funded American Rescue Plan Act dollars to fund theirs.

The county’s role in the project is to design and develop the park using tourism dollars, while the town will focus on maintaining it once it’s built.

County Supervisor Johnny Cribb says that protecting this land is crucial, adding that it was eventually going to see development if not.

He says the goal is to create a space for everyone to enjoy, while also making it a central location to learn more about the area’s history, from its ties to the Revolutionary War to its connection to Francis Marion.

“A theme that we’ve honed in on mutually between the county and the town is to highlight our rich history as it involves the Revolutionary War. This is where our independence was gained, 31 very important battle sites in the county, and we want school buses to be able to come here, individuals to be able to come here and go for a walk,” Cribb says. “But imagine being able to go on a rather short walk and there being 31 different kiosks around here to where you can learn all about all 31 different battle sites in the county.”

Moncks Corner Mayor Thomas Hamilton Jr. says he has a personal connection to the site, adding that his soon to be 98 year old mother-in-law lived on the property as a teenager in the early 1940s and that she remembers the live oak trees looking the same back then as they do now, further highlighting the importance of preserving this land.

“To save something like that, because this parcel would’ve been prime development and if they wanted to they could’ve taken down every tree, so it’s so important for us to be able to save it,” Hamilton says.

Hamilton says this project aligns with their vision of responsible growth while still creating spaces for the community to enjoy.

“Yes, this is five acres, but look at Daniel Island and that park that’s going to give the citizens access to the water. You know, look at the mega boat landing. Look at the projects that’s going to give back to give people a place to go. Those are so important as we grow, because we’re going to have growth, but it’s smart growth and it’s also to provide things for the citizens and I think that’s what we’re doing,” Hamilton says.

Cribb says the county’s Berkeley 250 Committee, which works to highlight the American Revolution and educate tourists and locals on the county’s connections to history, will also play a role in shaping the designs and features of the site.

“I see bus tours from Charleston coming here. Bus tours from all over the state, you know, senior field trip groups from all over the state, and for us to put it all in one location is going to be something that we’re really proud of,” Cribb says.

Officials say the public will also get a chance to provide input on the project throughout the process.

Cribb says they don’t have a timeline on the project right now, but in 2026, they expect to form a concept plan and begin making capital investments.

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Nearly five acres of tree-covered land in Moncks Corner will soon be preserved as a public park, thanks to a joint effort between Berkeley County and the town of Moncks Corner.

On Monday, officials announced the collaborative purchase of the Epson Oaks Property — two parcels totaling 4.76 acres along Epson Plantation Drive — for about $1.2 million. The county and town will split the cost evenly, with the county using funds from its Greenbelt Program.

The park is intended to serve as a space for public recreation and historical reflection. It emphasizes preserving the property's grand oaks and highlighting Berkeley County’s role in the American Revolutionary War.

“I am thrilled that our council and Berkeley County have come together to preserve this historic land with its magnificent grand oaks,” said Moncks Corner Mayor Thomas J. Hamilton Jr. “This joint effort not only protects our natural heritage but also provides a valuable resource for our community to enjoy and learn from.”

Under the agreement, Berkeley County will lead the park's planning and construction, working closely with the Berkeley 250 Committee. The town of Moncks Corner will handle the property’s ongoing maintenance.

“We are excited to partner with the town of Moncks Corner to not only preserve this site, but also develop it as a public park to highlight our county’s rich history as it relates to the Revolutionary War and those that fought for our independence,” said Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb.

The acquisition is part of Berkeley County's broader initiative to expand green space through its Greenbelt Program, funded by the 2022 One Cent Sales Tax referendum. Voters approved the measure in November 2022, which allocates an estimated $58.7 million toward green space projects countywide.

The soon-to-be Fireside SC, at 411 Corner Square Plaza in Moncks Corner, is currently filled with shiny new stainless steel appliances scattered around and yet to be placed in their permanent spots. On this day, co-owner Sean Holmes was wrangling a massive stove into the corner of what would be his kitchen.

Although he has never owned a restaurant before, he knows what to expect and is ready for the challenge he moved to Berkeley for.

“I was a corporate chef for a large restaurant group in New Jersey and was there for just about 10 years,” Holmes said. “We had 11 restaurants and four different concepts, so I helped develop all of those menus. We moved here about a year ago and came down here hoping to open a restaurant.”

Holmes admits he has been a foodie since childhood and likes cooking for his dad and brother. His mother passed away when he was young. He recalled being a six-year-old kid making dinner his interest in cooking was sparked very early. He says he is now in love with the industry and wants to put his spin on it while cultivating a community spirit.

“We want to make this a fun, family-friendly environment. We are a family and want to bring that sense of community to the restaurant. We want to grow with the community that is important to us. That is one of the reasons we came down here in the first place. When you’re from New Jersey, they don’t put much emphasis on the community,” he said.

Holmes adds that when he and his wife first came south, they were looking for the perfect fit, and they believe they have found it. Now, it’s about showing the future what he can do. He has a flare for Italian with flavors of French.

“Our focus will be 12-inch pizzas and share plates, bowls, salads and sandwiches. But we are highlighting our pizzas and small plates. That’s always been a thing for me. We gather around a table with family and friends, and we talk, and it’s just a great time,” he said.

His goal is to bring people together in a comfortable atmosphere. And it won’t be long before the doors open. He and his wife are planning to open Fireside SC sometime in July. He said he will be hosting a job fair to attract some people, and he is counting on some of his fellow chefs from New Jersey to suit up at his new eatery.

The park will not only preserve nearly five acres in the Town of Moncks Corner but also many irreplaceable and beautiful oaks on the site.

The County and Town have agreed to jointly purchase the park for approximately $1.2 million, and therefore, jointly own it. The County will utilize Greenbelt Funding from its Greenbelt Program to cover its half of the cost.

According to the agreement, the Town will maintain the site while the County will manage all activities necessary to implement and construct the park project with assistance from the Berkeley 250 Committee.

“I am thrilled that our Council and Berkeley County have come together to preserve this historic land with its magnificent grand oaks. This joint effort not only protects our natural heritage but also provides a valuable resource for our community to enjoy and learn from.” -Moncks Corner Mayor Thomas J. Hamilton, Jr.

“We are excited to partner with the Town of Moncks Corner to not only preserve this site, but also develop it as a public park to highlight our county’s rich history as it relates to the Revolutionary War and those that fought for our independence.” -Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb

Berkeley County is also working to procure additional park properties around the County through the Greenbelt Program. This program is funded through the 2022 One Cent Sales Tax referendum, which voters approved in November 2022. The referendum includes a projected $58.7 million for Greenbelt projects.

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-Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office-

Epson Oaks greenbelt historical Johnny Cribb park property

MONCKS CORNER — In the early evening March 30, firefighting crews extinguished a heavy blaze that ignited within the National Guard Armory.

Within minutes, crews arrived on the scene at 320 Airport Drive to find smoke coming from the armory building, said Colt Roy, assistant fire chief of central Berkeley fire and EMS. A 911 caller around 6 p.m. had alerted them to the blaze, which had overtaken an interior supply room.

While unsure if the supply room was for janitorial supplies or miscellaneous storage, Roy said that it did not contain critical equipment nor was it part of the armory vault.

The building itself is large and is "hardened," built to withstand potential threats to the armory, Roy said. These factors created a challenge to firefighting crews, as they needed longer hoses to be able to reach the blaze.

In around an hour, crews had the fire under control. No one was injured, Roy said.

To help air out the building in the aftermath, Roy called representatives with Santee Cooper to bring in a large fan boat — the type built for quickly traversing marshland. It proved to be much more efficient in clearing latent smoke than firefighters' smaller fans designed for residential use.

The cause of ignition will be up to the State Law Enforcement Division to determine, said Roy. SLED is the primary investigating body due to the governmental nature of the building. He said that in incidents where there is a belief of foul play, firefighters will be notified in advance and must take extra precautions. None were needed in this case and he received no official mention that the cause of ignition was critical.

The National Guard Armory is situated within Moncks Corner Rural Fire District jurisdiction, Roy said. Their crews responded, as did firefighters from Moncks Corner City Fire, North Berkeley, East Berkley and a rehabilitation van was sent from the Pine Ridge Fire Department.

A reporter with The Post and Courier attempted to obtain comment from officials with the National Guard Armory but did not receive a response by the time of publication.