Tree Planting Planned for Urban Horticultural Center

CHARLESTON - With the deal to buy roughly 3.7 acres between Sycamore Avenue and Magnolia Road now officially done, the Charleston Parks Conservancy and the Mount Pleasant Land Conservancy are planning to celebrate the purchase with a tree planting ceremony on the site 4 p.m. Tuesday.

The ceremony will include representatives from Charleston County Council, including Chairman Teddie Pryor, City of Charleston parks officials and Greater Avondale neighborhood residents who were instrumental in launching the project. Three oak trees will be added to the site which is already home to more than two dozen massive trees that have been preserved through the deal.

In July the MPLC requested $410,500 from the Charleston County Greenbelt Bank to purchase the property with the intent of turning it over the CPC to manage as an urban horticultural center, park and headquarters for the organization. CPC also chipped in $20,000 for the purchase.

The funds were approved in August and MPLC and CPC closed on the sale with the former property owner last week.

Next CPC plans to hold public meetings to gather input in how area residents would like to see the park developed. Initial plans call for a playground, walking trail and urban garden, but CPC Executive Director Jim Martin has said nothing is set in stone yet, and whatever is done on the property, now protected by a conservation easement, will be largely up to the public.