Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission celebrating 50 years in 2018!
Special happenings at the parks this year commemorate agency anniversary
[CHARLESTON] – The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) is honoring its 50th anniversary in 2018. The agency was established in 1968 as Charleston County Parks, Recreation and Tourism, and today is a large park system featuring over 11,000 acres of property. To celebrate this milestone and thank the public for 50 years of patronage, CCPRC will be hosting a variety of special experiences, activities and giveaways in the county parks.
Each week from March 4 through Dec. 15, guests to select parks and events will be the recipients of surprise giveaways or free activities. Dog-park goers one day may be surprised with free bottled water, while guests to the fishing piers may find shade under free umbrellas, and visitors to McLeod Plantation Historic Site may receive free tea and cookies. Activities and giveaways will vary by date and location. CCPRC will also host its annual Customer Appreciation Day event on March 4. On this special day, most CCPRC parks offer free admission to the public.
In 1968, Charleston County Parks, Recreation and Tourism (PRT) was established and deemed a Special Purpose District. This established the seven-member commission and its powers and duties, including staff, a budget, agency policies, and park rules and regulations. Early ventures in PRT's services included the opening of: five playgrounds on James Island in 1969, Kiawah Beachwalker Park in 1976, Palmetto Islands County Park in 1979, and Folly Beach County Park in 1982. In July 1985, the tourism function was transferred to the Charleston Trident Chamber of Commerce and PRT was renamed Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission.
Today, the agency owns over 11,000 acres of property, including 13 parks open to the public and several other properties that will one day be public county parks. At these locations, CCPRC offers various recreational services and hosts hundreds of special events and programs annually, including festivals, camps, classes and more.
For details on special 50th anniversary happenings, and for more information about Charleston County Parks, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com or call 843-795-4386.
Charleston County Parks is celebrating 50 years and still shining in 2018! 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 four land parks, three beach parks, four seasonally-lifeguarded beach areas, three dog parks, two landmark fishing piers, three waterparks, 19 boat landings, a skate park, a historic plantation site, 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, download the Charleston County Parks mobile app, or visit www.charlestoncountyparks.com.
