Johns Island to gain 66-acre park through land protection deal

A 66-acre property, previously known as Simmons Creek in Johns Island, is now under permanent protection and on the way to becoming the location of a new Charleston County park.

Lowcountry Land Trust, a nonprofit which preserves Lowcountry land and waterways, acquired the property and placed a conservation easement after concern was raised by island residents in 2018 through the Johns Island Community Conservation Initiative, according to a news release.

Part of the land was donated to the Lowcountry Land Trust and the organization purchased the rest for $925,000, the release said. The land trust reduced the land value to $1.7 million and transferred it to Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission, which was funded by the Charleston County Greenbelt Program.

“This acquisition reflects our commitment to listen and respond to community voices,” Natalie Olson, Sea Islands program director at Lowcountry Land Trust, said in the release. “We hope this project inspires the community to join us in protecting Johns Island’s rural heritage and natural resources. With this project, the Angel Oak Preserve, and the recent acquisitions of Main Road Park and Grayson Oaks, we are building a vibrant network of conserved lands that honor the island’s unique character and enhance residents’ connection to nature.” 

The project was also funded through grants and other funding from the South Carolina Conservation Bank, the Ceres Foundation, the Lowcountry Land Protection Capacity Fund, Gary McLaurin and an anonymous supporter, according to the release. 

Under ownership of the CCPRC, the property will be a public county park, the release said. The acreage will contribute to a collection of preserved properties aimed in increasing recreation, water quality and wildlife habitats. 

“We’re happy to welcome this property into the CCPRC family of parks and facilities,” Phil Macchia, associate executive director of CCPRC, said in the release. “This beautiful property offers the unique opportunity to enjoy water access, explore nature, and connect with Johns Island’s history. We look forward to working closely with our community to help shape the future of this park and the amenities it will offer.” 

This conservation effort is part of a system of protected lands along an emerging paddling “blue trail” linking key existing and future paddling access sites such as the Sea Island Small Farmers Cooperative (a future county park), Holly Grove (a land expansion of Caw Caw Interpretive Center), and other locations along the Stono River and Rantowles Creek, according to the release. Together, these properties form a network of preserved natural spaces that support recreation, water quality, and wildlife habitat.

“This effort represents exactly what the Conservation Bank was created to do by helping fund projects that protect a community’s ecological and historic features while expanding public access to the waterways by way of a new County Park,” Raleigh West, director of the South Carolina Conservation Bank, said in the release. “This is an investment in community resilience and the future of Johns Island.”