Ruff: Charleston County protects more greenspace in 2014

By Cathy Ruff | JAN. 5, 2015 — During 2014, the Charleston County Greenbelt Program helped facilitate the protection of 200 acres of rural landscapes through the purchase of conservation easements and the purchase of 250 acres that will be open to the public for recreation, farming and desired water-related activities. The program made strides toward meeting the public’s wishes through the approval of 16 projects totaling $6.5 million.

The Charleston County Greenbelt Program is funded by a portion of the Transportation (Half-Cent) Sales Tax, which was established for the purposes of financing roads, mass transit and greenbelts. Of the $1.3 billion anticipated to be collected during the 25-year life of the tax, $221 million was set aside for green space.

As directed by County Council, a citizen-advisory board known as the Greenbelt Advisory Board crafted the Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan, which designed a format for the expenditure of that portion of the Transportation Sales Tax monies allocated to greenbelts based on extensive public input.

Overwhelmingly, the public stated it wanted the rural landscapes to stay rural and the urban areas to have land for parks that included walking/biking trails. Additionally, citizens wanted to increase public access to waterways for Lowcountry pursuits such as fishing, crabbing and wading.

The public lands that were purchased with greenbelt funds include the following:

• McClellanville area – The East Cooper Land Trust purchased 94 acres known as Thornhill Farms, which will be used by local farmers looking to start or expand their farming efforts, thus enhancing the local farm-to-table movement. 
• Hollywood/Meggett area – In the Hollywood/Meggett area, three projects were funded. The College of Charleston Foundation added 90 acres adjacent to Dixie Plantation that will be used for the same educational purposes as Dixie. Additionally, the S.C. Battleground Preservation Trust, Inc., was approved for two projects that totaled 18 acres of land containing historical artifacts of both the Revolutionary War’s Stono Battlefield and the Civil War’s Church Flat Battery. 
• Edisto Island – The Edisto Island Open Land Trust purchased 12 acres adjacent to its current Legacy Live Oak Park. This land will be added to the current park, thus expanding the public space and providing additional access to the adjacent Russell Creek. 
• James Island – Two James Island projects were approved during 2014. The St. James Foundation purchased 7.5 acres off of Grimball Road. This land will be used for a Gullah Cultural Center with open space and a walking trail. Additionally, the Town of James Island was approved to purchase 7.4 acres on Fort Johnson Road for a town park with walking trail and access to a creek tributary. 
• Ravenel – The Town of Ravenel was approved to purchase six acres on Savannah Highway. This property contains a small lake and will be used for town festivals and events, as well as public recreation such as canoeing and fishing on the lake. 
• North Charleston – Five projects were approved for the City of North Charleston, totaling 15.5 acres. These projects are located along Noisette and Filbin creeks. Future plans include combining these lands with other greenbelt properties and city-owned lands to create public passive parks along both of the creeks.

Rural lands protected through conservation easements include the following:

• Edisto Island – The Edisto Island Open Land Trust purchased a conservation easement on 123 acres that are part of the historic Sunny Side Plantation on Peters Point Road. Although privately owned, the landowners are willing to open the land to the public for the land trust’s guided nature excursions. In addition, the owners have agreed to allow the property to be utilized for educational outreach programs that the land trust will coordinate with local Jane Edward Elementary School and the Edisto Museum. The Communities in Schools program being run at the school has created a History Detectives after-school program that connects the local children with surrounding properties and their historical significance. The property owner has agreed to allow Communities in Schools to utilize this property as a future site for this program. 
• McClellanville – The Lowcountry Open Land Trust was approved to purchase a conservation easement on 77 acres near McClellanville. The property is owned by the Reformed Episcopal Church and is used as a church retreat and conference center. The property is located along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and will allow for a dock to be constructed on the ICW for boating, fishing, crabbing and other recreational activities. Public access is on a reservation basis to churches of varying denominations, families, and in particular, youth groups. The property offers multiple recreational opportunities including walking trails, as well as access to the water.

For information regarding the Greenbelt Program and to see other projects funded through the program, please visit our website at www.smallchangeforbigchange.org.

Cathy Ruff is director of the Charleston County Greenbelt Program.