The dream of a public park with beach access in northern Beaufort County became a reality 67 years ago when the U.S. government and two northern businessmen worked out a deal to make 5,000 acres part of the public domain. Today that dream is literally coming apart a foot of sand at a time. Hunting Island State Park is in jeopardy of being swept away by the forces of nature -- unless something is done to renourish its beaches.

State and U.S. senators could help provide that tender loving care in the form of a blanket of nourishing sand. S.C. senators could provide help for this national treasure by going along with a budget provision approved the S.C. House early Friday morning. U.S. senators could help by making sure that money for the project remains in the U.S. Corps of Engineers budget.

Rep. Catherine Ceips' proposal to provide $5 million from the state Conservation Bank was approved by a 75-35 vote, which was a bipartisan effort.

Ceips, with the help of other members of the Beaufort County Legislative Delegation, maneuvered the bill through many incarnations before the final vote in the late hours of Thursday night. Use of the $5 million from the state's Conservation Bank would happen only in the event that the federal portion of the renourishment project isn't funded.

South Carolina already has allocated its $4.2 million share of the $9 million nourishment project. Ceips said the additional money will only be used if the federal government doesn't come up with $5 million in its 2005 budget for Hunting Island beach nourishment.

The park needs much work. Accelerating erosion in the middle of the island is causing alarm. When the first nourishment was done at the park in 1979, about 150 feet of beach was available at high tide. Today no beach exists at high tide and the tide rips away trees and high ground each year.

The park consists of a beach, maritime forest and marshes, some of the most valuable real estate owned by the residents of South Carolina. It also is the only public beach access in northern Beaufort County. Because it is the only public beach access in northern Beaufort County not only for county residents but all South Carolinians, it should be preserved as best possible.

Hunting Island State Park needs a permanent stream of funds to renourish the beach and rebuild facilities that the ocean has washed away. A surcharge at the beach should be considered just for nourishment. With a million visitors a year, a 50-cent surcharge could bring in a large sum of money each year. Unfortunately, time is not on the park's side and nourishment needs to be implemented as soon as possible.

Use of state conservation program money falls within the scope of the legislation passed two years ago to "improve the quality of life in south Carolina through the conservation of significant natural resource lands, forest lands, wetlands, historical properties and archeological sites."

The S.C. Senate could help preserve this natural asset concurring with the House to use the funds -- if the federal government doesn't come through with the funds.