Marion Square

This 10-acre park, much improved as the result of a 2001 renovation, accommodates a number of different urban activities, including a popular farmer’s market, a fountain, a performance area and a number of historic monuments. Some of the uses of the park are large in impact although brief in duration, such as the annual Piccolo Spoleto Arts Festival and BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival, but there are also a number of smaller and more frequent neighborhood and citywide events held here, including the city's Christmas tree. The space is flexible -- the park can host large events without feeling crowded and can host small events without feeling deserted.

Marion Square occupies a crucial position in the urban structure of Charleston. The park serves a number of adjacent neighborhoods with a broad demographic. This space has a long history of public uses – it has been used as a military marching ground since before the revolutionary war and was the site of a celebratory parade by the city’s African-American residents after the Civil War. The parade ground was reclaimed for public use in the latest renovation with new paths crossing the large green lawn. The edges of the park are shady and cool. The mixture of native and exotic plantings label their continent of origin, which celebrates Charleston’s history as a major port.