A groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday morning to start the construction of a park honoring the memory of a deputy killed in the line of duty.
Deputy Kenneth Collier was killed in a crash on Feb. 28, 2010 while trying to stop a drunk driver going the wrong way on Highway 52 in Santee.
The park located east of Fanita Drive and north of Prospect Avenue in Santee will be called the Deputy Ken Collier Neighborhood Park. It will include a playground structure, benches, a picnic shelter, interactive bikeway for children, a half-court basketball court and outdoor fitness equipment.
Sheriff Bill Gore and city leaders were joined by Collier’s family for the groundbreaking.
The project’s budget including design and engineering is $1.2 million with state and local grants being used to help offset the cost, according to Santee officials.
The park is expected to be completed in October of this year.