MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCIV) — Town leaders in Mount Pleasant are asking residents to weigh in as they try to preserve a longtime green space that could soon be redeveloped into 10 homes.

The land, which has been open to the public for decades, is owned by Trident Academy. School leaders say they have allowed the town to use the fields for years, but the academy is now looking to sell the property.

“I was born and raised in Mount Pleasant,” said Jake Rambo, a town councilman. “[I] grew up playing soccer at those fields, grew up hanging out with friends and neighbors who lived by those fields.”

Interim Head of School Hacker Burr said the property was donated to Trident Academy by the Deighton family years ago.

“Really the point of that gift was to make sure that the school’s in place to serve generations to come of students that struggle with dyslexia,” Burr said.

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Burr said the academy has shared the fields with the community and values the open space.

“For years, we have generously let the town of Mount Pleasant use these fields,” Burr said. “We love the green space. And I think everybody loves the green space.”

The academy’s plan to sell has raised concerns among residents who have long used the area as a park-like space.

“As you can imagine, anytime people feel like their park is being converted into homes, obviously, especially not knowing all the background and that it is private property, they would be upset naturally,” Burr said.

Rambo said the town has limited remaining recreational space and wants to protect what is left.

“We have very little space left for our kids, and we have to work to preserve those spaces,” he said.

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Rambo is pushing for a change to the town’s zoning ordinance that would require properties like this one to go before Town Council for approval before development could move forward. He said the change would create a formal opportunity for residents to speak out.

“What that would do is give the public and the neighbors a public process to come and voice their opinions,” Rambo said.

Rambo said he believes a compromise is possible.

“I do think that there is a win-win deal that can be had with Trident Academy in the town that does not see this green space bulldozed and preserves it for our future generations of kids,” he said.

Burr said the academy previously explored selling the property to the town, but said Mayor Will Haynie told school leaders it wasn’t possible at the time. Haynie did not respond to a request for comment.

Rambo said the town now has the resources to explore a purchase and would be interested in acquiring the property if a deal can be reached.