OLD TOWNE CREEK COUNTY PARK MASTER PLANNING MEETING
CCPRC invites the public to weigh in on future park plan July 20
[CHARLESTON – July 2017] – On Thursday, July 20, 2017, the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) will hold a public information and input meeting for the master planning of its "Old Towne Creek County Park" property. All interested members of the public are invited to attend. The meeting will run from 6 to 8 p.m. in the cafeteria at Orange Grove Charter School, at 1225 Orange Branch Road in West Ashley.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m., followed by a presentation about the property and CCPRC’s master planning process at 7p.m. Posters illustrating information relevant to the master planning process will be on display throughout the meeting. The design team and CCPRC staff will be available to answer specific questions. A questionnaire inviting public comments on the park design will be available onsite, as well as online on the project website at www.CharlestonCountyParks.com/OldTowneCreek between July 21 and Aug. 4.
Old Towne Creek County Park is a 67-acre park site located at 1400 Old Towne Road in West Ashley, immediately south of Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site. The property was acquired by CCPRC in 2011 for use as a county park. Formerly known as “Ashem Farm,” the property was cleverly named by and for its previous owners Ashby Farrow and Emily Ravenel Farrow (who was affectionately known as “Miss Em”). The park property may be remembered by many as the former home of the St. Andrews Parish Riding Academy.
Prior to her passing in 2011, Miss Em chose to conserve the majority of the property in perpetuity with a conservation easement held and monitored by Historic Charleston Foundation. The conservation easement limits the development of new buildings, roads and lighting; maintains natural buffers along Old Towne Creek and Old Towne Road; and maintains the general cultural and natural integrity of the property. There are opportunities for park improvements; however, they are limited and guided by the conservation easement. The master planning process for this park is guided by a steering committee, which includes representatives from CCPRC, Historic Charleston Foundation, Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, Lowcountry Land Trust and the City of Charleston Department of Parks.
Initial work on the site has involved site surveys and ecological and cultural studies. Upcoming work by CCPRC will include the compiling of site reports and developing, finalizing and adopting a master plan by the fall of 2017.
Use of Old Towne Creek County Park is currently limited to special events and private rentals, but the park will have regular hours following the development of park facility improvements recommended in the final adopted master plan. Park development is expected to commence in 2018. After the public meeting, interested persons can follow project updates on the project website, CharlestonCountyParks.com/OldTowneCreek.
