How do YOU use your Parks?

What YOU want in your parks…

Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out our 2025 park usage survey!  Hearing directly from people who use our parks allows us to develop events and gardens that inspire and create strong communities.  Thanks to your feedback we are excited to bring back and expand popular programming like our walking series and music in the parks. We have also developed a year long class series based on the topics you are most interested in. Stay tuned for our 2026 event calendar coming soon and consider a donation to help us continue to offer free community programming and year round park care!

Didn’t get a chance to respond to our survey? We always love hearing from you! Please email us at info@charlestonparksconservancy.org with any questions or suggestions or to have one of our staff reach out.

Let’s take a look at how you use your parks….

How FREQUENTLY and WHERE do YOU use your parks?

  • Nearly ¾ of survey respondents visit their parks at least once a week.
  • Most frequented parks:
    • Colonial Lake (51%)
    • Rose Pavilion at Hampton Park (41%)
    • Marion Square (38%)
    • West Ashley Greenway (29%)
    • Corrine Jones (23%)
    • Magnolia Park & Community Garden (22%)
“I drive by Colonial Lake every day on my way to work; I love seeing the progress and I see all the volunteers who are working so hard to make Colonial Lake beautiful! I absolutely ADORE the teddy bear picnic, it's so sweet to see my kids having a picnic and enjoying all the festivities with their favorite stuffed animals!”

    “My most memorable experience was exploring the Charleston city parks when I first moved here. One by one, I would bike around and learn where each on was and what they offered. Now I live near Hampton park and visit daily.”

    WHY do YOU visit your park?

    • To be closer to nature (74%)
    • To exercise or be physically active (62%)
    • To be with family or friends (49%)
    • To relax/unplug (47%)
    • To attend a special event or program (29%)
    • To use the playground (29%)
    • To connect with my community (28%)
    • To use the dog park (19%)
    • To volunteer (19%)
    “This week my partner and I were walking thru Hampton Park when we noticed a dog running lose with no owner nearby. We chased the dog for many blocks until finally he ran into a dog park we could close off. Later, we found out thru Facebook that he had slipped out the front door of his house and his owners had been worried sick about where he was. I found the whole experience very moving because by the time we caught him, over 10 local people were working together to chase him down. None of us knew the dog, his owner, or each other. Just local Charleston citizens who enjoy the parks, looking out for one another. Very comforting to know how good of a community we live in!”

    “I have volunteered at Mulberry park twice. I am fascinated by the amount of vegetables and fruits trees/plants in this small community garden. The CPC staff are such a delight.”

    WHO joins YOU at the park?

    • Spouse/partner (59%)
    • Pets (40%)
    • Friends (35%)
    • Children under 10 years old (32%)
    • I go solo (26%)
    “My roommates and I recently moved into the neighborhood right by St Julian Devine Playground. We started composting after seeing the community compost drop off in our neighborhood. We have made it a fun tradition to walk to the compost a couple times a week! It’s a great way to get out in the community and meet our neighbors!”

    “I’ve visited all the parks in Charleston and enjoyed them each for what they offer, but Colonial Lake has always entranced me. I was fortunate enough to find someone who saw the beauty of the parks as I did and after three years of dating, and an untold number of walks and picnics in the parks, I proposed to her while we enjoyed an evening picnic under an oak at colonial lake. The location was natural and perfectly captured the setting suns light across the park. She said yes and we were married this past May. Her father jokingly refers to the park as “the scene of the crime”. Living only a few blocks away we walk past the bench nearly daily and are reminded of how special this place is to us, and how special we are to each other.”

    “I walk with my toddler and dog almost every day in Hampton park. It brings us so much joy and we love to hunt for butterflies and. Bumblebees and take dance breaks by the rose pavilion and gazebo.”

    What FREE events would you like to see offered?

    • Walk in the Parks opportunities (e.g. early morning bird walks, guided tree walks, group meet ups), (93%)
    • Music in the Parks (80%)
    • Public art installations (51%)
    • Large festivals/community events (50%)
    • Native tree giveaways (49%)
    • Group volunteer opportunities (e.g. Weeding Wednesday), (33%)
    • Community playdates (lemonade/ice cream socials), (26%)
    • Teddy Bear Picnic (24%)
    “Last night, we went to Music in the Garden at Magnolia Park. It was a beautiful night. Music was great. Great to see so many young families out. And great to have local vendors.”


    “My favorite park experiences always involve public art installations. It combines two of my favorite things and makes art free and approachable for everyone.”

    “Our family of 4 (including a 3 and 6 yr old) is blessed with two wonderful parks nearby. Corrine Jones and Hampton Park. We love taking our girls to both as well as riding our bikes through Hampton Park every day on the way to school. I think the most memorable experience was the last time the Conservancy held an event at Corrine Jones with music, food, and just an announced gathering that brings us all together with our neighbors. The neighborhood and community is what it is all about, and the parks are the playing field where we are able to come together.”

    What events would YOU be willing to PAY for in the parks?

    • Edible & pollinator garden workshops (45%)
    • Gardening workshops (41%)
    • Plant ID/food foraging workshop (32%)
    • Food preservation workshop (29%)
    • Guided park tours (18%)

    What would you like to see in YOUR park GARDENS?

    • Native plant gardens (72%)
    • Gardens with seasonal color (59%)
    • Plant tags or other educational signage (52%)
    • Gardening for wildlife (51%)
    • Edible landscaping (41%)
    (My most memorable park experience was) “Seeing all the plants for the pollinators and enjoying a lovely stroll in all the parks, especially in the Hampton park area.”

    “The trees are so peaceful and beautiful- the heat has been unbearable this summer but the shade in the park has been amazing.”

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