Groundbreaking ceremony held at John McCants Veterans Park (Goose Creek, SC)

A late afternoon shower stopped just in time for a special groundbreaking ceremony Thursday, as the construction of John McCants Veterans Park officially began in Goose Creek.

The late – and much-beloved – Goose Creek City Councilmember for whom the park is named was represented at the ceremony by his wife Christena and his family, as well as a host of friends and community leaders. Goose Creek Mayor Greg Habib, City Council members, and Goose Creek Recreation Commission members joined the McCants family for the groundbreaking.

The park will include a playground, walking trail, dog park, multi-purpose lawn, and a Veterans Honor Plaza. The Goose Creek Recreation facility will replace the current Dennis Park, and expand well beyond its borders across Anita Drive.

Mayor Habib said the park will do three important things: honor Mr. McCants, honor the City’s Veterans, and fulfill a promise the City made to the Berkeley County School District to build a park on a section of the property acquired from the district several years ago.

Mayor Habib called the fact that the park will bear Mr. McCants’ name and called the 24-year City Councilman a mentor and friend.

“Mrs. McCants thought I forgot about Mr. McCants,” Mayor Habib said to chuckles in the audience. “But anyone who knew Mr. McCants knows that you don’t forget about Mr. McCants. He was a tremendous human being.

“This park will lift this community up. It will honor our veterans like we have never honored our veterans before, and it will carry on the legacy of Mr. McCants. We are very proud of this project.”

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott was represented at the ceremony by his Senate Office’s Regional Director Al Jenkins, who presented a special wreath to Mrs. McCants.

An estimated finish date has not yet been set for the park’s construction, but the City is planning a celebration when the project is complete.