New Daniel Island lacrosse field vandalized
This was to be an exciting time for the newly created non-profit South Coast Lacrosse Association (SCLA). Led by chairman of the board and president Greg Taylor of Daniel Island, the organization was about to officially kick off its mission to advance youth lacrosse in the Lowcountry on its new fields on the southern end of the island. But it would appear vandals had other plans.
The week of September 10, as coastal communities along the southeastern coast prepared for Hurricane Florence’s arrival, an unknown individual or individuals drove all over South Coast Lacrosse’s first finished field - leaving deep tire tracks, turned up grass and muddy patches in its place.
“It’s truly sad that someone would want to do something like this,” said Taylor. “It’s just very irresponsible.”
The damaged field is now unusable and will have to be re-sodded and repaired, he added.
“We were just so deflated and discouraged,” said Taylor. “Because we were just starting to go into the fundraising piece of the non-profit to build the fields out. We got one field up and we were hoping after the hurricane we could have youth stuff happen on that, maybe some league activities, some clinics and a little bit of a soft opening…Now we’ve had the vandalism.”
According to Taylor, SCLA filed a police report on the incident. The organization spent approximately $50,000 to prepare that first field and now their cash reserves are depleted, he said. They were hoping to generate some fundraising dollars by having the first field open, so they could bring in critical monies needed to expand the park.
“We spent all of our initial funds on getting that first field ready,” Taylor added. “…We’re looking for help. We have to go back and redo that field. We have to re-sod it, level it. And probably put a fence around it.”
Those with information that may assist in the investigation into the vandalism are asked to contact the City of Charleston Police Department at (843) 743-7200.
The South Coast Lacrosse Park, as it has been dubbed, is located on several acres of land past the Crow’s Nest and Edgefield Park Pool and is part of a five-year renewable lease the organization signed with the Daniel Island Town Association. Part of their mission is to serve lacrosse players of all ages and abilities to develop their skills, while giving them an opportunity to play pickup games, practice with their teams, and enjoy outdoor recreation. According to the SCLA website, the park is to serve “all players from the first-timer to the college-bound star, the youngest little leaguers to adult club teams.”
Citing a lack of available space overall for lacrosse in the Lowcountry, SCLA hopes to eventually offer five fields for the sport at their Daniel Island location.
“We could never get enough space,” added Taylor, of what initially sparked the group into action. “…I have several Daniel Island residents that are on the board that are helping to build these fields out so we can have youth lacrosse here on the island, and the fields to do that.”
Anyone wishing to make a donation to SCLA can do so by mailing a check (payable to South Coast Lacrosse Association) to ServisFirst Bank, 701 East Bay St, Suite 104, Charleston, SC 29403. For additional information on the organization, visit www.southcoastlax.org.