Daniel Island Neighborhood Association President Marie Delcioppo gives her 2018 year-end review and looks forward to 2019 goals

Another year is behind us and another new year is upon us. Daniel Island saw plenty of growth and even more discussion of development in 2018, including the continued widening of Clements Ferry Road and another round of talks about Congressman Mark Sanford’s proposed regional park on Daniel Island.

Through all 365 days, the Daniel Island Neighborhood Association represented island residents to the best of its ability, whether it be through opening up a public forum to discuss the new community and recreation center or hosting a Q&A with Sanford about his park concept.

But, what were DINA’s major accomplishments of 2018? According to the organization’s President Marie Delcioppo, a wide variety of achievements were met, each with a different larger goal in mind.

In addition to the community recreation center meeting and the ability for residents to voice their opinions directly to Sanford, DINA posted a survey that gave residents the chance to name Daniel Island Park 4 (a name has not yet been selected). “That’s a really special area that neighbors rallied around and wanted to make sure it was preserved,” added Delcioppo. “And they got that done.”

At the beginning and end of 2018, DINA attempted to increase resident participation by waving their yearly $10 fee per household and reducing the number of meetings per year from six to four. “It was all of that in mind of ‘how can we be more inclusive,’” said Delcioppo. “How can we celebrate this concept that we’ve all bought in to?”

Some of the more noticeable accomplishments are the speed humps on Barfield Street and the beginning stages of added crosswalks at the intersection of Island Park Drive and Seven Farms Drive. Delcioppo stated that these came about thanks to residents reaching out to her or other DINA officials.

“We move these things forward,” she said. “That doesn’t mean that we win everything. That would be great, but that’s life. But, I think it speaks to the importance that our residents are listened to, and even if we can’t get something done, we do our best to explain why.”

But out of every goal met, the DINA President’s favorite accomplishment is the growth the organization saw over the year. “In 2018, we saw our largest membership,” Delcioppo explained. “I come from a communications background and my goal, when I was first elected president, was to be as communicative as possible, to open up different channels of communication and get in touch with as many residents as we possibly could.”

In the upcoming year, DINA plans to double down on the accomplishments seen in 2018. Delcioppo said that she wants to see “more and more residents becoming engaged.”

She added that she also wants to ensure that DINA is staying on top of development issues. “I look around and I think the biggest thing happening on the island would be the development down at the Children’s Park,” she said.” So, seeing the workings of that, there are tweaks being made to it.”

Overall, Delcioppo believes that the Neighborhood Association’s achievements are broader than any specific topic, stating that doing their part in maintaining the Daniel Island lifestyle is the larger goal. “There’s kids outside riding their bicycles, parents and grandparents with little ones at the park, people walking in and out of businesses—and that’s our accomplishment,” she said. “I can talk about street signs and crosswalks, but that’s what makes Daniel Island so special.”