New parking area makes Bike the Neck path more accessible in Murrells Inlet

New parking area makes Bike the Neck path more accessible in Murrells Inlet

A new parking area on the south end of Highway 17 Business in Murrells Inlet, on South Carolina’s Hammock Coast®, will allow even more people to use a bike path that runs all the way to Pawleys Island.

County and state officials recently met with the public at the parking area for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, celebrating this new addition for the path.

With a $515,000 price tag, state legislators, Rep. Lee Hewitt and Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, secured $325,000 for the project, while Georgetown County contributed the remaining $190,000.

“This project is a gateway to Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island, encouraging exercise and sightseeing of our natural habitats,” said Georgetown County Council Member Stella Mercado. “Our multimodal paths encourage friendly contact and exercise among neighbors, residents, and visitors across all age groups so that they may explore our beautiful natural resources from our rivers to our inlets and ocean.”

She said the location of the new parking lot is amazing, and it’s the perfect spot for a selfie or photo with family and friends.

“The picturesque backdrop the area provides our residents and visitors throughout the day is rare, beautiful, and worth a visit,” she said. “Stop, take in an epic sunrise or serene sunset via any mode of transportation and memorialize the gateway to Murrells Inlet and Litchfield/Pawleys Island beaches.”   

She added that the new parking area offers a safe place to load and unload a vehicle.

Mercado gave special thanks to Rep. Hewitt, Sen. Goldfinch, Santee Cooper, Georgetown County Public Services, Georgetown County Parks and Recreation, contractor ARC of Murrells Inlet, architect Bolton and Menk of Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet 2020 and Linda Ketron with Bike the Neck.

Beth Goodale, director of Recreation & Community Services for Georgetown County, said that Bike the Neck started in Pawleys Island about 30 years ago, raising funds and planning more than 20 miles of paths weaving through Murrells Inlet, along Highway 17 on the edge of Huntington Beach State Park, Brookgreen Gardens, Litchfield Beach and Pawleys Island.

“Countless numbers of residents and visitors enjoy riding the paths throughout the year,” Goodale said. “Some residents use the paths for primary transportation accessing shopping and the services needed for day-to-day life.” 

She said that the new parking area on the south end of Murrells Inlet, which had been used for informal parking for the path, was closed several years ago.

“Since parking is often in short supply along various access points to the path, Rep. Lee Hewitt was instrumental in acquiring state funding to help design and construct the new parking area,” she said. “The pervious paved parking spaces and the asphalt drive safely delineated from the roadway provides a much-improved solution for dedicated parking adjacent to access to the Huntington Beach State Park and Business 17 sections of path.” 

Ketron said “anything that makes access safer and improves connectivity with the rest of the path is a good thing.”

“The new parking lot,” she added, “strategically placed at the south entrance to Murrells Inlet and the north entrance to Huntington Beach State Park, contributes positively to both goals.”

The bike path is in constant use, which shows that residents and visitors know and love the bike path, especially with the new parking lot and the extension of the bike path on Waverly Road. Ketron said there is also continued work being done on Old Murrells Inlet Road.

Mercado said she and other officials appreciate Ketron’s vision for these pathways along our natural corridors over the last 30 years. She also thanked Georgetown County directors Goodale and Ray Funnye for making that vision into a reality for our residents and visitors to enjoy today and in the future.

By Clayton Stairs / tourism manager for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce and South Carolina’s Hammock Coast®