Windjammer Park improvements on tap in Tega Cay

A walk along Windjammer Park could become smoother, and a good seat closer, thanks to an almost $9,200 state allocation.

Tega Cay and the Carolina Show Ski Team received the recreation grant in mid-March. The city committed to a 20 percent match, the rest coming from South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism. The ski team and city will improve walkways and install a retaining wall to prevent further walkway erosion. They plan to put benches behind the wall for a better view of the lake.

“This will be phase one,” said ski team member Rebecca Brusch. “We hope to continue it around the points of the park.”

The ski team uses Windjammer for free, weekly shows throughout the summer. They also perform at special events such as Tega Cay’s annual July 4 birthday celebration. Last year, the team donated a $35,000 floating platform, which it uses at Windjammer but residents can use at other times. The 20-by-40 foot platform was key in the group continuing with Windjammer as its base, previously having to tow in a platform for practice and competition.

The ski team begins 7 p.m. Friday performances in June, and would like to have the improvements complete by then. The group will see if local landscape or other business partners want to help.

“We’re hoping at the Spring Pick-Me-Up that we’ll be able to at least start marking off, or maybe a little light grading,” Brusch said.

City manager Charlie Funderburk said the state recreation funds aren’t available to each county, each year. Past funding has helped the city replace playground equipment at all city parks, purchase trash cans and put a bike rack at the Living Memorial Gardens. Projects can take multiple rounds of funding.

“The city is excited to work with the Carolina Show Ski Team on this project that will not only serve them, but the community as a whole,” Funderburk said. “Once completed, this pathway around the park will most certainly be an enhancement for all of our park visitors, allowing them to really enjoy the beautiful views of Lake Wylie.”

It’s possible the city could budget more money this fiscal year or next toward the project, or wait until future state funds come available. Funderburk said he’s enjoyed working with the ski team for almost 15 years, and the latest effort should be no different.

“Previous projects with the ski team have worked out well and they do a wonderful job in helping take care of Windjammer Park throughout the year,” he said.

This story was originally published March 27, 2015 at 2:01 PM with the headline "Windjammer Park improvements on tap in Tega Cay."