South Carolina Gov. McMaster vetoes parking plan for new Lake Murray park
A new park in the Midlands is now set to open without parking restrictions after action by the governor.
Gov. Henry McMaster has vetoed a proviso in the 2025-26 state budget that would have required a new state park on Lake Murray to limit visitors to those who reserved a parking space ahead of making their trip.
“I am vetoing this proviso because it prematurely mandates the operation of a reservation system at Pine Island State Park, months before the park opens, and before attendance and traffic patterns demonstrate the need to institute one,” McMaster said in a veto message sent to the Legislature. “In addition, this proviso may be interpreted as an effort to limit access to the lakefront amenities available for recreation at our state’s newest park.”
That measure was added to the budget passed by S.C. lawmakers because of residents’ concerns about traffic heading out to Pine Island, the newest state park scheduled to open to the public in October. The 27-acre island is accessible by a narrow road running through a residential area near Yacht Cove, north of the Lake Murray dam.
But unless a two-thirds majority of lawmakers override the governor’s veto, visitors to Pine Island will not be required to make reservations when the park opens this fall.
Resident Rick Levitan, whose home sits directly across the water from the island, worries the state will learn the hard way that traffic maintenance is necessary if visitors to the park end up spilled across the causeway and on to River Road past his cul-de-sac, with limited space to turn around or for residents to get out. He’s especially concerned if emergency vehicles are needed on the island or the surrounding neighborhoods.
“I think it’s a huge mistake on the governor’s part,” Levitan said. “Him and [S.C. Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director] Duane Parrish will be responsible for any safety issues that occur.”
The future park was once a private recreation spot available to employees of South Carolina Electric & Gas, which owned the lake and its hydropower dam. The state acquired Pine Island in 2021 as part of a tax settlement with the now defunct utility, which was absorbed by Dominion Energy.
At an open house on Pine Island held May 28, the Parks Service told visitors that parking would be open on a first-come, first-served basis for visitors to the park, which is similar to how the parks department operates its popular beach parks. Nearby residents can walk in or bicycle if they get a “park passport.”
Levitan points out that Dominion has already instituted a reservation requirement for its Lake Murray Public Park on the other side of the dam. Since that park opened for the season in April, visitors must reserve a parking space on Dominion’s website, potentially weeks ahead of time.
Pine Island will charge an admission of $6 per adult, $3.75 for seniors, $3.50 for children between 6 and 15, and free for kids 5 and under.
The park will offer spots for swimming and picnic areas, plus long-term leases for boat slips at its marina and rentals at a renovated events venue.
This story was originally published June 4, 2025 at 2:15 PM.
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