Charleston Parks Conservancy Hosts First Daniel Island Garden in the Park Day
CHARLESTON, S.C. – After several projects downtown and West of the Ashley, the Charleston Parks Conservancy is headed across the Cooper River to Daniel Island to help residents beautify one of their main parks. On Saturday, June 27 from 8 a.m. to noon, the Conservancy will host its first Garden in the Park event at Etiwan Park. Daniel Island residents and volunteers of all experience levels are invited to help plant, mulch and water.
The Conservancy has teamed up with The Daniel Island Co. and the Daniel Island Property Owners Association to bring a new garden to Etiwan Park. Conservancy staff members have carefully selected the plants for the park, including full sun and drought-tolerant varieties like Imperial Blue Plumbago, Lantana and Rosemary, along with a perennial grass called Pink Muhly Grass and flowering shrubs, a Pink Knockout Shrub Rose and American Beautyberry.
Jimmy Bailey Jr., vice president of community services for the Daniel Island Property Owners Association, approached the Conservancy about doing a project on Daniel Island after seeing the great work the staff and Park Angel volunteers had done at the Windermere Community Garden.
“I go to South Windermere all the time and marveled at the amazing transformation of that public space,” Bailey says. “Over and over, I thought, gosh, I wish we could get these folks on Daniel Island.”
Bailey contacted Jim Martin, executive director of the Conservancy, and the wheels were in motion. Employees at The Daniel Island Co. have contributed $1,200 to the project and all they wanted in exchange was the opportunity to help with the project – an easy request to grant as the Conservancy relies on volunteers to help with gardening in the park projects.
“I’m really hopeful that between that group of employees that stepped up to donate and the (Daniel Island) Garden Club members who have already demonstrated a commitment to beautifying the parks and any residents who want to help, this will be really successful and lead to more involvement with the Conservancy,” Bailey says.
Members of the Conservancy’s volunteer force of Park Angels will be on hand along with the Conservancy staff to both work in the park and share information about gardening, the organization and volunteer opportunities.
“We are very excited to work with organizations and residents of Daniel Island to put a new garden in Etiwan Park,” Martin says. “These groups approached us about working together and that’s exactly what the Conservancy is all about – partnerships and a grassroots effort from residents who want to beautify their public greenspaces.”
Volunteers should bring a trowel or favorite planting tool, pruning shears and sunscreen. The planting area is located by the outdoor theater steps on the side of Etiwan Park. Please RSVP to Paul Wentz at pwentz@charlestonparksconservancy.org.
About the Charleston Parks Conservancy
Founded by businesswoman Darla Moore and headed by prominent horticulturalist Jim Martin, 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 CPC 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. For more information or to contact the Park Angels, please visit www.parkangels.org.
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