Charleston County Parks acquires 19-acre property in Hollywood on Wallace Creek

Charleston County Parks has acquired the 19-acre Sea Island Small Farmers Cooperative property on Wallace Creek, a site of historical and cultural significance.

The property, linked to the 1739 Stono Rebellion and a 20th-century African American farmers’ cooperative, will be developed into a public park. The Stono Rebellion, the largest slave uprising in British colonial America, unfolded in a 10-mile stretch near present-day Highway 17.  Wallace Creek served as a vital recreational space for African American families during segregation. Adjacent to a former segregated “beach,” one of just six such areas in the region, the property offered a place of respite and community.

In the late 20th century, the Wallace Creek property housed the Sea Island Small Farmers Cooperative, a crucial organization that supported local African American farmers. The cooperative offered essential resources and services, enabling farmers to succeed despite difficult conditions.

Future plans for the site include a master planning process with community input through surveys and public meetings to determine the park’s features.

Potential amenities could include interpretive exhibits, water access for paddle sports and fishing, scenic water views, and a connection to the East Coast Greenway. As Wallace Creek is a tributary of the Stono River, the park may also link to other Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) facilities via a water trail for paddlers.