Patriot Boulevard: An Emblem of Cooperation in North Charleston
In a vivid display of inter-governmental cooperation, the city of North Charleston, Dorchester County Council, state lawmakers, and the Dorchester District 2 School Board have come together to work on a series of remarkable civic projects along Patriot Boulevard.
The Evolution of Patriot Boulevard
The evolution of Patriot Boulevard goes back several years to the construction of Fort Dorchester High School. Recognizing the growth in this section of the Charleston metro area, the city of North Charleston annexed much of it. Around 2012, the city acquired land near the high school anticipating the need for a future fire station. However, that turned out to be the initiation of a much larger project.
Progress through Partnerships
What was initially land for a single purpose soon ignited interest from Dorchester County and the School Board. Both expressed interest in parts of the city’s land buy – the county for a future sheriff’s substation and emergency medical services station, and the school board for a parcel adjacent to the expanding high school. This marked the commencement of the city dividing the land into three separate sites.
This cooperative spirit took a new turn when discussions between the city and the Dorchester District 2 School Board considered merging separate swimming pool plans into a new aquatics center. With a $7.5 million bond issue in hand, the school district partnered with North Charleston’s Mayor Keith Summey to expand the proposed facility into a more significant $25 million project that would deliver an Olympic-sized pool, a warming pool, and other features.
Creating a Corridor of Cooperation
Further collaboration led to the creation of the new Dorchester County-North Charleston branch library on the school district’s share of the original parcel. Another success story emerged when the city and county agreed to integrate a county fire district with the city’s fire department’s operations. This consolidation saw the transformation of an existing facility on Dorchester Road into both a city fire station and a county EMS substation.
Moving forward, a new senior center is planned for the original parcel on Patriot Boulevard thanks to help from state legislators. What’s more, the city recently acquired land across Patriot Boulevard for a passive park and soccer fields which are expected provide further recreation opportunities for residents.
Lessons from North Charleston’s Example
North Charleston’s successful collaboration illuminates the advantage of experienced, enlightened leadership. Both Mayor Keith Summey and District 2 Superintendent Joe Pye have a record of successful alliance-building initiatives. Their approach should serve as a model for other cities and municipalities looking to promote inter-governmental cooperation and synergy.
Through consecutive projects, the leaders along Patriot Boulevard have demonstrated that effective communication, collaboration, and strategic alliances can overcome the challenges and complexities of working across governmental bodies. And as the Charleston metro area continues to expand, this model of cooperation will prove more vital than ever.
