Saving Sandy Island

The African-American families on Sandy Island cherish their closely-knit community and a way of life that remains much the same today as it was a hundred years ago. The constant rising tide of development on the Grand Strand has yet to reach their island for one main reason. No bridge.

All that almost changed in the mid-1990s. The majority owner of the island applied for a permit to build a bridge to Sandy Island that ultimately would have led to a gated resort development similar to that already rampant along the coast. The island families knew their community's future was in jeopardy. Pratt-Thomas Walker volunteered to represent the community in challenging the bridge. In the end, a creative solution was accomplished to the satisfaction of the landowner and the community, successfully protecting this unique island and its residents and preserving it for generations to come.

You can find the full story of saving Sandy Island by viewing a documentary produced by SC ETV found at http://www.scetv.org/index.php/carolina_stories/show/saving_sandy_island/.