9
Year in Review - The Big Picture
Revitalization: An Island-Wide Effort
Work Expands to All Areas of Kiawah
In 2014, the Kiawah Island community celebrated its 40th anniversary. Though this is certainly a milestone, reinvestment is
more vital than ever to retain Kiawah’s position among premier communities as the island continues to age. Beginning in 2011,
the KICA Board of Directors and association staff committed to a comprehensive program to improve Kiawah’s streetscapes and
entries to neighborhoods, including landscaping, signage, lighting and trails.
As the island’s gateway and its oldest neighborhood, the West Beach community was selected as the first area of focus for revitalization.
Three years into this effort, the focus has expanded, making this an island-wide revitalization initiative.
• West Beach - Phase III of the West Beach Revitalization Project focused on landscaping upgrades in Sea Marsh, Low Oak
Woods Road, Eugenia Avenue, Redbay Road and Greensward Road, including KICA’s rights-of-way and common areas.
Landscape improvements featured native grasses and other low maintenance materials, as well as work on irrigation.
• East Beach - Turtle Point I completed extensive exterior renovations, as did Turtle Point II, featuring new HardiePlank
exteriors and refreshed landscapes.
• Vanderhorst – A major landscape capital improvement project for this area has been scheduled for 2015 and will focus on the
first Flyway Drive exit off of Governor’s Drive. The project will include a more formal landscape design, similar to what is now
featured along Governor’s Drive and the Kiawah Island Parkway.
You can review Phase 1 and 2 projects in the West Beach Revitalization Report at kica.us (News/Board Initiatives).
By the Numbers: The Greensward Road/Low Oaks Woods improvements included 48 trees, 119 shrubs, 1,214 ferns and 3,693 native grasses.
Infrastructure Work Continues
Revitalization is not limited to landscaping improvements. KICA’s Major Repairs and
Replacements Department spent 2014 working on variety of components throughout
the island, including:
• Repairs to metal drainage pipes throughout Kiawah’s pond drainage system.
• A hydrologic study of the island’s drainage system.
• A new greenhouse at KICA’s Maintenance Facility.
• $75,000 in leisure trail resurfacing.
• Replacement of the Night Heron Park fence.
• Rebuilding and extending of boardwalks 7 and 9.
Joining Forces
Since KICA’s revitalization launch in 2011, all island leadership organizations stepped
up to make significant contributions to their properties. Here are just a few:
• Kiawah Island Golf Resort - Major renovations to Osprey Point Golf Course, which
spanned five months and included all parts of Osprey, from the clubhouse to the greens.
• Kiawah Partners - Unveiled a large natural park at its new Ocean Park development,
located near the Ocean Course. This park features leisure trails winding among open
green spaces and live oak trees.
• Town of Kiawah Island – Greenbelt projects included a fishing area at the Kiawah bridge,
extension of the leisure trail from Inlet Cove to Beachwalker Park, and enhancements
to the native plant garden at Town Hall.
• Kiawah Conservancy - Opened the Naturally Kiawah demonstration garden. The Garden,
located in a portion of Night Heron Park, showcases plants native to Kiawah Island.
• Regimes – Numerous regimes invested in exterior and/or landscaping upgrades.
• Individual Homeowners – Engaged in exterior and/or landscaping upgrades.
Get Involved
Exterior renovations to structures or landscaping enhance your property’s value, as well as the surrounding community. To learn more
about enhancing your property’s value by joining this island-wide revitalization effort, contact KICA Land and Lakes Director Dave
Achey at [email protected]. Don’t miss the annual Landscape Symposium this spring for expert advice and guidance with home
landscaping. The Architectural Review Board also is a great resource for your exterior home renovations: kiawaharb.com.