Coverage Source: CharlestonCurrents.com
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By JIM MARTIN
Special to Charleston Currents
SEPT. 6, 2011 - People typically come to Charleston for its history, dining and beaches, but in the next few years they may also be drawn to the Holy City for its forward-thinking horticultural activity. Charleston County Council has approved the Charleston Parks Conservancy's request to conserve a 3.7-acre piece of land in West Ashley through the county's Greenbelt Program. We'll be transforming the space into an urban horticultural center.
It was amazing to see the community come together to support this project, particularly after the Finance Committee initially rejected the urban green space preservation proposal. But a flood of emails and phone calls from the West Ashley residents who live near the property prompted County Council to reverse the decision.
The property at the corner of Sycamore Avenue and Magnolia Road is currently a vacant, overgrown lot but now has the potential to become a neighborhood park, including Charleston's first environmentally friendly urban horticultural center. A playground, community vegetable garden and a display garden are also envisioned for the site.
This would be a place where kids and adults can have a hands-on experience learning about collecting rainwater, composting and recycling, and growing the food that ends up on their supper table.
We worked closely with residents who live around the property as well as the Mount Pleasant Land Conservancy, which focuses on preserving undeveloped parcels of land in the greater urban environment. The organization has been a staunch supporter of this project.
"From my perspective this project embodies everything that both our organizations where created to accomplish," says John Girault, executive director of the Mount Pleasant Land Conservancy. "This is a collaboration that has aligned community needs with two local nonprofit organizations working toward a greater quality of life through beautification, connectivity and preservation of our natural world."
Adam Webb, who has lived in the neighborhood for about six years, got involved with the project early on and has been one of many voicing support for an urban horticultural center and how it will benefit the community.
"What it will bring to the West Ashley community is indescribable. If this becomes the national benchmark that it has the potential of becoming, it will be a highlight of the area," says Webb, adding how the project will revitalize the area, attract families and increase home values.
Webb, too, has been impressed by the local residents and business owners who wrote letters, sent emails and attended meetings. "It's truly amazing and humbling to see what you can do when can get your community to come together for a common goal."
At this time, we don't have concrete plans for the site. We'll work closely with the community to gather feedback and input on elements of the design that will best support the community's needs in a small neighborhood park. The urban horticulture center is a new concept for the wider Charleston community. We anticipate it being a model educational experience that makes sense in our ever evolving urban environment.
The project will likely take about five years to fully complete with design work beginning next year. In the meantime, we hope to start using part of the property for a community vegetable garden.
