Historic Coakley Chapel Park (Charleston County) Receives Permanent Protection

Community Champions Preservation of Historic Coakley Chapel Park in Hamlin Beach
Grassroots efforts come together to safeguard cultural heritage, natural habitat, and public green space in Charleston County’s newest Historic District

Charleston, SC, August 5, 2025 – Lowcountry Land Trust, a nonprofit committed to preserving Lowcountry landscapes and waterways for current and future generations, is proud to announce the permanent protection of Coakley Chapel Park, a 6.5-acre property located in the heart of the Hamlin Beach settlement community and historic district in Charleston County. The property exemplifies the intersection of cultural preservation, environmental conservation, and access to a central gathering place that has long served the community’s residents.

At the park’s core is the historic Coakley Chapel, originally known as The Meeting House, established by Mr. Sam Coakley in the early 1900s. The chapel quickly became a vital part of Hamlin Beach’s community life, functioning as a prayer house, meeting space, and local resource hub. Moving forward, the chapel will continue to serve as a community gathering space while also providing educational and interpretive programming about the history and culture of the Hamlin Beach Community.

In addition to preserving a part of Hamlin Beach’s cultural heritage, the protection of Coakley Chapel Park secures vulnerable natural habitat, contributes to water quality preservation, and expands open space for public access. The park will serve as a hub for cultural interpretation and education, sharing the history and traditions of Hamlin Beach’s Gullah Geechee roots with residents and visitors alike.

“Coakley Chapel Park represents a rare opportunity to permanently establish community-owned community land in Hamlin Beach by protecting one of the community’s most treasured gathering spaces,” said Sam Seawell, Lowcountry Land Trust’s community lands director. “At the same time, we’re safeguarding important natural habitat and ecological resources for future generations.”

Coakley Chapel Park is the sixth community lands project led by Lowcountry Land Trust, and the fourth within a Charleston County Historic District. When the property’s owners decided to sell, they offered the Hamlin Beach community a chance to purchase the land before listing it on the open market. Understanding its cultural and historical importance, community leaders Cassandra Davis and Myra Richardson reached out to Lowcountry Land Trust for support. The Land Trust led the acquisition to ensure the land was permanently protected and preserved for community use.

The $1.9 million purchase was made possible through the generous support of the Charleston County Greenbelt Program ($1,614,500), the South Carolina Conservation Bank ($300,000), the Gary C. Butler Family Foundation ($60,000), and Atlantic Packaging ($40,000). Notably, members of the Hamlin Beach community—who currently own the land—are donating $85,000 in property value, helping bridge the gap between the purchase price and the appraised value. Lowcountry Land Trust will hold the property during the development phase of the park, after which ownership will transfer to the Hamlin Beach Community Association.

Stay connected by following @LowcountryLandTrust on social media and signing up for their email newsletter to receive the latest updates on conservation efforts and ways to get involved.

ABOUT LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST

Lowcountry Land Trust—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization—permanently protects land throughout coastal South Carolina that is foundational to the area’s coastal ecosystem and residents’ quality of life. Having protected over 163,000 acres of land since its founding in 1986, Lowcountry Land Trust is one of the most impactful local land trusts in the United States. More information about Lowcountry Land Trust is available at www.lowcountrylandtrust.org.

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