Charleston Parks Conservancy Brings on Adviser for Colonial Lake Redevelopment
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Parks Conservancy has hired Ginny Deerin as development adviser for the Colonial Lake redevelopment project. She will develop and manage the capital campaign.
The Conservancy and the City of Charleston have been working on a design for a revamped Colonial Lake over the last several years. After receiving input and ideas from the public, the two entities are at the end of the design process and it’s time to start raising the money to transform Colonial Lake with additional landscaping and more seating areas for the public.
The cost of the project, including design, engineering and construction, is more than $5 million. The City of Charleston will contribute approximately $4 million, and the Charleston Parks Conservancy will raise another $1.2 million to complete construction and fund ongoing maintenance of the park.
Deerin will oversee the capital campaign; the public phase of which will launch this fall. Construction will begin in spring 2014.
“Ginny has extensive experience in the nonprofit and development sector, and we’re excited she’s bringing that expertise to the Conservancy,” said Harry Lesesne, executive director. “This is a major park project for the Conservancy and we wanted to have someone dedicated to its fundraising efforts and working with the public and donors who want to be involved in contributing to the future of Colonial Lake.”
Deerin grew up in Washington, D.C. Her early career included working for Rawle Murdy Associates in communications and in the development field at The College of William and Mary, the Medical University of South Carolina and the Coastal Community Foundation. In 1996, she founded Wings for Kids, a nonprofit serving economically disadvantaged children in South Carolina and Georgia. Deerin has been awarded the Order of the Palmetto, considered to be the highest civilian honor in South Carolina.
About the Charleston Parks Conservancy
The Charleston Parks Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to further beautifying City of Charleston parks and green spaces. With the help of its Park Angels volunteer force, the Conservancy seeks to rally community support and pride behind the effort to create a lasting movement. For more information about or to support the Charleston Parks Conservancy, please visit www.charlestonparksconservancy.org.