With major projects underway involving public green spaces—from the West Ashley Greenway and Bikeway to the peninsula’s Lowcountry Lowline to The Local Pulse’s idyllic effort on John’s Island—we thought it was time to catch up on all the action. Here, find outdoor spots you can visit now, and get an update on those still in progress (hint: a few need your support)
Meggett County Park
7247 Ethel Post Office Road, Meggett
For $1, you can explore 5 miles of trails at this 416-acre county park on foot, bike, or horseback. Pass beneath grand live oaks and soak up views of Toogoodoo River tributaries, wetlands, marsh, and wildlife.
John’s Island Community Ponds
Maybank Highway, John’s Island
Only 1 public access to water exists on John’s Island: the Limehouse Boat Landing. To “bring water back to the people,” Local Pulse is working to purchase 26 acres with spring-fed ponds from a private owner and transform the land into a nature preserve and community center. Purchase the organization’s new app ($5) at localpulseapp.com.
West Ashley Greenway & Bikeway
From West Ashley to John’s Island
185+ citizens joined in summer design workshops, offering the City and the Charleston Parks Conservancy their thoughts on future improvements to the 2 linear parks that together stretch 11 miles. The resulting plan will be revealed at the October 10 West Ashley Revitalization Commission meeting.
Old Towne Creek County Park
1400 Old Towne Road
2 years: the approximate wait time for this county park to open on 67 acres that were once Ashem Farm, home of preservationist Emily Ravenel Farrow. While Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission finishes the master plan, enjoy sneak peeks during Wine Down Wednesday (charlestoncountyparks.com/wdw) on October 3 and 17.
Rose Pavilion
30 Mary Murray Drive
Hampton Park’s 1980s concession stand—designed by local architect Sandy Logan—will reopen in 2019 amidst an ornamental garden space. Dubbed the Rose Pavilion, it’ll be available for social gatherings, culinary pop-ups, and cultural events via the Charleston Parks Conservancy.
Butterfly Book Nook
1020 King Street
A 137-foot-long mural designed by Redux artists and painted with help from 150+ community members brightens this space, created to honor Cynthia Graham Hurd by Enough Pie, First African Evangelical Christian Church & Child Development Center, and the John L. Dart Library.
Lowcountry Lowline
From Courtland Avenue to Woolfe Street
This project will rehab 1.6 miles of desolate peninsula property that once hosted Norfolk Southern railroad tracks. The result: a linear park whose total economic output could reach $4.8 billion. Friends of the Lowcountry Lowline hope for the design process to begin in 2019. Make a donation and watch for event announcements at lowcountrylowline.org.
