County to Dedicate and Open Richard H. Rosebrock Park

ST. GEORGE, SC – September 16, 2011 – On Friday, September 16, 2011at 4:00 PM, Dorchester County will host a dedication ceremony and grandopening of Richard H. Rosebrock Park, located along the banks of theAshley River and Bacon’s Bridge Road. The event will be held at BeechHill Elementary and shuttle buses will take attendees to the park site.

The park was named for Council Member Richard H. Rosebrock, who hasserved on Council for 18 years, and been an advocate for conservation.Park amenities include 2.4 miles of trails, two picnic shelters and anoutdoor classroom. In the future, the park will also have a canoe/kayaklaunch on the Ashley River and a fishing pier.

Richard Rosebrock said, “It’s a humbling experience and an honor, and I don’t know what I’ve done to merit this kind of attention. My onlyfeeling is that I’ve always loved this place. I’ve always thought thiswas a beautiful area, especially the azaleas, the wisteria, the mosshanging from the trees, and the long leaf pines. I’ve always wanted tokeep it beautiful.”

“Rosebrock Park is a dream come true for our citizens. I cannot think of another person more deserving than Richard Rosebrock for whom County Council has named this county park,” said Council Chairman LarryHargett.

Through his many years on service on county council, Richard Rosebrockhas consistently stood up for conservation and quality of life inDorchester County, so naming the park for him is an excellent choice.Further, naming it after him also serves to recognize the scores ofother individuals like him across the county, who have stepped forwardand helped protect special places that give identity to the county, nowand in the years to come,” said George McDaniel, Executive Director,Drayton Hall.

The original park plan was created by Haden Stanziale as part of theCounty’s Master Plan for Parks and Recreation, with a projected budgetof $1,883,000. However, through in-kind donations from variousindividuals and businesses, and the use of Dorchester County PublicWorks staff, the park was built with less than $200,000. Gyro-Tracprovided labor and equipment for clearing trails. SCE&G donatedtreated poles for a pedestrian bridge. Summerville resident Mike Monteiled the Ashley Ridge National Honor Society students in clearing theSwamp Fox Trail. A canoe/kayak launch and fishing pier will be providedwith funds from US Fish & Wildlife grants through South CarolinaDepartment of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and a 25% match from the County.

Hard won efforts to set these 76.44 acres aside for a public park began with a management plan published in 2003 by the Ashley Scenic River Advisory Council in partnership with the SCDNR. The plan took two years ofcareful study with the input of approximately 500 members from thecommunity. These partners recognized the value of the park as one of the few possible areas left for public access to the Ashley River.

The park also had irreplaceable value as a northern gateway to SouthCarolina’s most historic highway with its ancient live oaks and historic plantations on the Ashley River. Thousands of people visit theseplantations ever year to imagine early American history and enjoy walksin their rural setting.

The opportunity for the public to enjoyRosebrock Park was almost lost if it had not been for the leadership and cooperation of councilmen and citizens who understood the long termvalue in protecting the land from being developed for other uses.Fortunately, Lowcountry Open Land Trust (LOLT) purchased 68 acres in2004 to hold it as a green space.

Dorchester Council then had the vision to work towards using funding to acquire the protected land forits citizens. LOLT then transferred the land to Dorchester TrustFoundation who leases the park to Dorchester County today. An additional 8.44 acres are leased to the County from Charleston Water System.

The Park’s rich history includes its beginnings as a footpath for NativeAmericans and a critical crossing point during the Revolutionary War. Ahigh bluff above the bridge served as a redoubt built in 1780 by Colonel William Moultrie as part of his defense of Charleston against the British.

In more recent times, the bridge was the site of a dam constructed tocreate a water intake for the Town of Summerville. The dam created apopular swimming and diving spot for Summerville residents, includingCouncilman Richard H. Rosebrock, who recalls spending much of his youthon the property and for whose leadership the park is named.