Amenities Prioritization By Category

Beach

1. Parking for beach access at both ends of island
   More parking for fishing, crabbing, nature spots plus bathrooms
2. Bathrooms
3. Boardwalk and bike paths - Maintenance by KICA more frequently
   Trashcans and keeping beach clean - Sanctuary area (resort), Beach Club (KIC)
4. Beach Club type amenities at Sandcastle
   Beach chairs, food and drink, beach games
   1. Mixed response on more rental agencies on beach:
   1. Chair/umbrella rentals
      Beach service through TOKI, resort at Sanctuary
   2. Kayak/raft/boogie board rentals
      Tidal Trails, resort at Mingo Point
   2. Town responsibility
   1. Mileage and/or sign posts
      Good for EMS, runners, walker.
   2. Lifeguards - Beachwalker County Park
   3. Vehicle access - driving on the beach (TOKI)

Recreation Amenities

Attached is an inventory of recreation amenities currently available on Kiawah identified by whether they are accessible to all members (association facilities) or whether they belong to one of two corporate entities on the island and are restricted to members or resort guests only.

This is followed by a criteria list identifying those items that were taken into consideration in arriving at the list of recommendations, followed by the recommendations listed in order of priority.

Notes

1. KIGR properties currently available to Governor.s Club members or association members may become unavailable at any time.
2. KRA facilities are only available to Kiawah Island Club members.
3. One association kayak/canoe launch; bike paths; small nature paths and crabbing docks are maintained by the association, but are accessible by resort guests as well as members and their guests.

Evaluation Criteria

1. Indications that private facilities which members have accessed in the past may not be available to the community in the future (or will be available with significant restrictions). Quote from Digest survey response: "The status quo affords unequaled access and opportunities for the residents. However, any change in the philosophy of Kiawah Island Golf Resort or Kiawah Development Partners or the sale of all or part of these two companies to other entities could significantly alter the equation, most likely to the detriment of the residents. Consequently, it is crucial for the long term health of Kiawah as a residential community to control, by ownership or long term lease, the land it will need to operate on its own should such prove to be necessary in the future. It is a tenuous position to be in when one is beholden to the good graces of another entity."
2. 2006 Survey Results
   1. "Overall, nearly two-thirds of members and two-thirds of spouses take advantage of the Sandcastle Community Center at least occasionally."
   2. And "Slightly more than half of those who have adult guests say that those guests use Sandcastle facilities." (Page 11)
   3. The Sandcastle swimming pool was rated as extremely or moderately important by 67 percent of members indicating a level of importance significantly higher than the 2004 survey (Page 12)
   4. Fitness equipment was also ranked higher than in 2004, but not significantly. It placed third in the list of extremely or moderately important. (Page 12)
   5. Children's playground equipment ranked fifth in the list of extremely or moderately important amenities.
   6. While the importance of a venue for private social events ranked tenth in the list of importance, the percentage of members ranking it as extremely or moderately important was significantly higher than 2004.
   7. The survey dealt with improving the Sandcastle and did not list a wide range of fitness and exercise options.
   8. For members, 72 percent ranked fitness and exercise facilities first, second or third in preference for new amenities.
3. Absence of available parcels for amenities on Kiawah Island
4. Demographics of population in foreseeable future and build-out population
5. Amenities marketed by new and up-scale resort communities
6. Responses to KICA Digest survey questions

Recommendations

1. Heated/indoor pool (year-round)
   1. Renter/guest access for a fee
   2. Zero slope entry (handicapped accessible)
   3. Designed to accommodate large water aerobics classes
   4. Additional adult pool (more lap lanes)
2. Park land with opportunities to experience nature
   1. Natural history museum
   2. Nature programs
3. Community center
   1. Athletic and recreation facilities such as tennis courts, indoor track, pool table, bocce court
   2. Gathering place for movies, programs, cultural events
   3. Art room
   4. More library space
4. Tennis courts
5. More bike paths
6. More kayak/canoe access points and storage
7. Large playground with splash zone/fountain

Notes

1. Clearly, some of these items can be put together. For example, a community center could include an indoor pool. Park land can include more kayak launches and bike paths.
2. Details regarding these items would require expertise to determine the exact type, nature and size. For example, there are criteria for swimming pools in terms of number of square feet per person both in the water and on a deck.
3. In terms of priority, two and three are probably of equal rank in terms of the member priorities, and the community center may actually be in second place if individually named sport facilities and recreation activities are added together.

Shopping/Services and Restaraunts

Current Inventory of Services

1. Medical
   1. Dr. Book at East Beach
   2. Roper/St. Francis facility at Freshfields
   3. EMS
   4. Fire stations/first responders
   5. Physical therapy at Little Pig
   6. Dentist at Freshfields
   7. Other practitioners on Johns Island
2. Spa and salon services
   1. Sanctuary - public (but some restrictions on appointments)
   2. Kiawah Island Club - quasi-public (sponsored by member)
   3. Beauty shop at Freshfields
3. On-island shopping
   1. East Beach Market
   2. Sanctuary shops
   3. West Beach shops
   4. General store at main gate
   5. Golf and tennis shops
4. Nearby shopping
   1. Freshfields - drugstore, bank, cleaners, bookstore, grocery store, mailing facility, various clothing shops
   2. Little Pig center - furniture and decorating center
   3. Bohicket Marina - various shops
   4. Roadside - Sidi's, Cindy's, other
   5. Aging facilities/services
   6. Bohicket assisted living
   7. Recreational facilities of KIC, KIGR and Sandcastle
   8. Communications/business services
   9. Broadband available through Comcast or ATT
   10. Wireless - variable service depending on location
   11. Business center at Sanctuary
   12. WiFi at Sandcastle; other "hot spots" at East Beach market, Java Java
   13. Notaries public at association and town
   14. KICA will provide some services upon request

Needs Identified Through Surveys

1. 2006 survey - six future needs were surveyed and ranked. In order of rankings: access roads, emergency health care, non-emergency health care, public transportation, performing arts facility and assisted living.
2. Wish list in June 2007 Digest survey: Trail to Freshfields, restaurants; transportation on-island (jitney), to Freshfields, and to Charleston; essential retail shopping at Freshfields (post office, gas station, chain drugstore, hardware store, auto mechanic); movie theater; helicopter service for acute emergencies.
3. Wish list in August 2007 Digest survey:
   1. Services: restaurants, hardware store, chain drug store, laundry/dry cleaners, coffee/wine bar on Kiawah, nail and hair salon, a second grocery store, clothing. NOTE: the phrase "reasonably priced" appears next to several items in some responses; thus, respondents may be aware that some of these services are already available, but question the pricing of them.
   2. a.Medical: heliport, 24-hour emergency room, in-home care services, additional ambulances, evening and weekend medical services, more medical specialists; X-ray, MRI and CT scanning equipment, a KICA medical clinic next to town hall staffed by MUSC and Roper.

Comments/Recommendations

1. Many of the suggested amenities depend on market forces beyond the community.s control (e.g., .reasonably priced. shops and services, more restaurants).
2. Medical services are a high priority, though, again, these are market-driven. Medical suppliers will open and expand facilities and services as demand warrants.
3. Some suggestions reflect a lack of knowledge as to what is currently available (e.g., helicopter service is available for major trauma cases and does not depend on a heliport; bike trail to Freshfields is being worked on by town.)
4. The areas that appear to be most fruitful for follow up/action are:
   1. Expanded transportation services on-island, to Freshfields, and to Charleston (in coordination with resort? Seabrook?),
   2. Improved business services for members (though these are informally available now to some extent), perhaps starting with all-in-one machine at Sandcastle; regimes could consider Wi-Fi for their regime, and
   3. Leadership in improving medical services (perhaps facilitating discussion of synergies from sharing facilities and services, if that is feasible in today.s medical marketplace - there are legal limitations). We note that two KICA directors (Drs. Fallon and Glassman) were recently charged by the KICA board with looking into emergency care and health care facilities in the Charleston area and have identified a number of issues and questions that will be addressed. See Kiawah Island Talk, Sept. 2007 issue, Pages 5 and 8.

Conclusion

This category does not appear to yield very much by way of high priority items.

Natural Environment

The following priority list was constructed after reviewing the responses from the June, July and August 2007 questions published in Digest, as well as the 2002, 2004 and 2006 KICA surveys.

The importance of the natural environment is consistently a core value for Kiawah members.

1. Park areas
   1. Many responses suggest some sort of 99 year lease or transfer of Night Heron Park to KICA control. There is a growing concern that the resort will restrict access to the park, as they have to their swimming pools.
   2. Suggestions
      1. Park with picnic tables, grills
      2. Parks like Night Heron - would like two more, one down by Beachwalker and the other up by the new Cougar Island. These should have a nice playground, sports fields, track, volleyball and basketball court(s), maybe a pool, maybe tennis courts, maybe another satellite nature center, snack bar, parking, shuttle to the beach, etc.
2. Bike trails and leisure paths
   Suggestions
   1. Better maintenance of bike trails, especially in the East Beach area.
   2. Additional bike trails
      1. Surfsong and Surfwatch. They can be dangerous in the summer without them. There may be some other places where we need them too.
      2. Add a path outside the bridge between Snowy Egret and Glossy Ibis.
   3. Keep Kiawah bicycle friendly (can ride on trails and beach)
3. Boat/kayak launch areas - also rental options for these
   Cinder Creek soon to have larger boat storage area
4. Open access to Rhett's Bluff -- it's still gated
5. Outdoor party places
   1. Cinder Creek
   2. Rhett's Bluff (KICA)
   3. Pavilion at Night Heron Park (resort)
6. The three Marsh towers (KICA)
7. Mutt mitts on bike paths (lots of them)
8. Nature tours - currently resort controlled
9. Blue Heron Nature Center (where? at the Preserve?)
10. Kayak tours
    1. Tidal Trails
    2. Resort
11. Platforms for viewing marsh/hammock islands
12. Crabbing/fishing docks - need more
13. Dog park/Bark park
14. Do-it-yourself car wash facility (pay for water)
15. Community garden (Seabrook has one)
16. Little Bear Island (KICA-owned with KINHC easement)

Non-athletic Activities for Members

Based on a review of the survey results, here's a priority list for non-athletic activities for members:

1. Performance venue/library complex (e.g., theater, stage, small movie theater/auditorium, which would be part of a larger library complex). This would also serve as a location for educational seminars and meetings, both public and private. Music practice rooms with a piano and sound system would also be housed here. Ideally, it would have ocean proximity and views and architecturally themed around Kiawah's strengths - nature and the ocean. The library portion would have a large reading room/lounge overlooking the ocean with wireless internet, coffee, tea and snacks. This would be a quiet place to relax, open to all on the island.
2. Educational seminars, lectures. These could be in conjunction with local colleges and universities.
3. Arts programs and art studio facilities (for artists to work and take classes and to exhibit their work).
4. Thursday night dinners
5. Community social events
6. Venue for private parties and meetings (Sandcastle's second floor seems like a great locale for groups of about 60 or less.)
7. Centralized promotion and communication regarding island events (e.g., book clubs, seminars, education, arts, card games, Bible study). Although the community calendar on the KICA Web site appears fairly thorough, does it include everything? Should we/can we include more? Ideally, we wouldn't have to consult multiple calendars regarding all the various community events.
8. Encourage POPs sponsored groups
9. Member communications, including increased transparency regarding KICA finances

Please note that the Governor's Club and the Kiawah Island Club are not listed simply because they're already well established. But, if they are to be included, they are important amenities and should be ranked high. Based on the survey results, members rate beach, golf and tennis at the top, and these clubs are key avenues to enjoy those activities.

Miscellaneous

1. More parking for fishing, crabbing, nature spots plus bathrooms
   Parking was repeatedly mentioned in all surveys and Digest questionnaire responses.
2. East end of island facilities - behind second gate
3. Security/Safety
   This area seems to be of general concern. Responses ranged from .What security?. to requesting that a tighter rein is kept on non-members on Kiawah.
4. Transportation services
   1. Maybe downtown and airport. Target people who can't drive or don't have a car.
   2. On-island transportation
      Freshfields shuttle (runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day?)
   3. "On call" transportation to on-island places: the beach, golf courses, shops, clubs and to Freshfields, Bohicket, Seabrook?