Investment in West Ashley
Two Conservancy projects came to life in West Ashley this Spring with the installation of South Carolina’s first public food forest at Mulberry Park and the unveiling of the first permanent public art structure on the West Ashley Bikeway. We invite you to spend a morning walking or biking the West Ashley Bikeway from the Magnolia Road intersection, home to Pollinator Paradise and ending 2.5 miles away at the newly renovated Mulberry Park and Food Forest.
Mulberry Park Food Forest
After two years of site preparation, community outreach, fundraising and planning, South Carolina’s first food forest was installed on a half-acre site at Mulberry Park in the Ardmore neighborhood.
Designed to support those experiencing food insecurity and access challenges, the forest features eight layers of food-producing plants, from trees to shrubs and even mushrooms. At maturity in 3-5 years, the food forest will produce 30,000 pounds of free produce annually for our community. In addition to the forest being accessible for the public to harvest produce as needed, the Conservancy will harvest and distribute produce to our neighborhood resource center partners throughout the City. In tandem with food production, significant educational programming will occur, with new signage and free community classes to educate people about harvest, nutrition, food preservation and more.
This important project was made possible by financial support from the SC Forestry Commission, Trident United Way and Bank of America.
Art in Parks
In April, Pollinator Paradise rose as the first permanent public art piece along the West Ashley Bikeway at Magnolia Road. “Pollinator Paradise” is a visual tribute to the crucial role of pollinators in the ecosystem.
The installation blends art with natural surroundings to emphasize the intersection of art, nature, and community. This initiative is a key component of the Conservancy’s ten-year Master Art Plan for the bikeway and greenway. It underscores the Parks Conservancy’s ongoing commitment to enriching parks to foster community engagement and enhance appreciation for nature. The Conservancy is proud to partner with ArtFields to engage a Southeastern artist, TuxedoKat, who commissioned this piece.
This project marks the beginning of a 10-year investment in activating the West Ashley Bikeway through an innovative art trail—the first of its kind in our city.
Project sponsors include The Joanna Foundation, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, and the South Carolina Arts Commission.
Read about Pollinator Paradise in West Of’s news article here.