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CHARLESTON COUNTY] – The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) recently acquired a nearly 94-acre property south of Awendaw for future development as a public park.
The purchase of this property was made possible through Charleston County Greenbelt funds and a partnership with the GBSC Foundation, which initially acquired the land to ensure it would become a place that supports wellness, outdoor recreation, and community connection.
The 93.92-acre property is located off Highway 17 North just south of the town of Awendaw. The property features a 4.7-acre freshwater pond, 33.4 acres of wooded highland with a hardwood forest, 42 acres of wetlands, and shares a boundary with the Francis Marion Natural Forest.
Neighboring the property are the Shea Family Fields, which are currently home to SC Surf soccer club and also used by The Charleston Battery, College of Charleston, The Citadel and US Club Soccer.
“Charleston County Parks is grateful to acquire this beautiful property, and we are excited for the public park it will one day become,” said CCPRC Senior Planner Matthew Moldenhauer. “Our next step will be a public master planning process, which will include opportunities for the community to tell us what they would like to see on the property. Potential amenities include walking trails, picnic areas, multi-use recreational facilities, pond access, recreational and educational programs, and a swimming pool, which may be considered over multiple phases of construction.”
Public meetings and other opportunities to provide input on the property will be posted on CharlestonCountyParks.com when available.
CCPRC purchased a total of approximately 93.92 acres from the GBSC Foundation for $7.51 million. The Charleston County Greenbelt Program provided $4 million to fund the purchase of 79.9 of those acres.
Through a mutual vision of promoting wellness and access to water and recreation, the acquisition of the property was also made possible by the GBSC Foundation. The GBSC Foundation was established by a local family focused on creating more wellness and outdoor playing and field space in the Charleston community; one of the foundation’s most recent projects was the opening of the adjacent Shea Family Fields, which offers two full-sized turf fields for use by local soccer organizations including SC Surf. The GBSC Foundation acquired the land from the McCaskill family, who owned it since the 1970s. The McCaskills wished for the land to be used for public good, as well as conservation of the wetland and forested parcels, all of which will be part of the park’s future under Charleston County Parks.
For updates on CCPRC’s future East County Recreation Site and future public planning processes, please visit CharlestonCountyParks.com.
The mission of CCPRC is to improve the quality of life in Charleston County by offering a diverse system of park facilities, programs and services. The large park system features over 11,000 acres of property and includes six regional parks, three beach parks, three dog parks, two landmark fishing piers, three waterparks, a historic plantation site, a skate park, 19 boat landings, a climbing wall, a challenge course, an interpretive center, an equestrian center, cottages, a campground, a marina, as well as wedding, meeting and event facilities. CCPRC also offers a wide variety of recreational services – festivals, camps, classes, programs and much more. For more information on CCPRC, call 843-795-4386 or visit www.charlestoncountyparks.com.
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