INSPIRE
the CPC with a desire to reinvigorate
their neighborhood park, which is
being used more and more by younger
families with small children who
move into the area. The park included
a playground that had become outdated, as well as plantings that had
been neglected. The neighborhood
worked with the CPC to draft and
refine design ideas, and worked with
the city of Charleston to identify work
and budget assignments. Collectively,
the neighbors then raised the money
to pay for the project. They gathered
to build a beautiful shade structure, in
addition to installing new playground
equipment. The results are stunning.
“The feedback that we have had from
the neighborhood has been terrific,”
said Martin. “Neighbors have commented on how they never knew how
many kids lived in the neighborhood.
For years, parents had been driving
their children to other parks 10 to 15
minutes away, but now parents and
children walk to and use their neighborhood park.”
The investment, both financial and
through sweat equity, also pays dividends. “Volunteering for a neighborhood project is a rewarding experience
for many,” said Lesesne. “Volunteers
can see their own handiwork in a park
that they use, they recognize their work
and it creates a sense of ownership.”
Martin agrees and sees that ownership
come alive in many of the parks and
projects that he has worked on in the
past six years. Allan Park is one that
stands out. Located behind Hampton
Park, the city’s largest, Allan Park is a
small, more intimate park, in a mostly
older African American community.
“At the start of the project neighbors
talked about how years ago they used
to use the park, and the project team
was looking at a park that was mostly
dirt, beautiful but unmaintained trees
and a huge white fountain. No one was
using the park,” said Martin. “After
the renovation of the park, neighbors
are in the park once again—it has
become a meeting place, concerts are
held there, and neighbors prefer their
small park to the larger Hampton Park,
which is just a block away. Neighbors
feel comfortable using their park again
and it is amazing to see this positive
effect in the community.”
COMMUNITY GARDENING
The beautification of Charleston’s parks
is the core of the Conservancy’s work,
but expanding the knowledge, awareness and engagement of the community
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