Public invited to celebrate renovated Moultrie Playground

The Charleston Parks Conservancy, residents and donors will celebrate the renovation of Moultrie Playground near Colonial Lake. The public is invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony with Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg on May 19.

The event is 4:30-7 p.m. on Thursday, May 19. Moultrie Playground is located at 41 Ashley Ave. Previously scheduled celebrations were postponed because of inclement weather. This event is rain or shine.

The community is invited to join in the celebration with activities and games for all ages. Check out the new pickleball courts or shoot some hoops on the new basketball courts with Coach John Harris. V-Tones of Charleston, Dancefx Charleston, inflatable games, Soccer Shots Charleston, and more will provide entertainment for the whole family. Dashi and King of Pops will have food available for purchase.

In 2016, the Conservancy completed its largest renovation to date with an overhaul of Charleston’s iconic Colonial Lake. Later that year, a group of neighbors took on the task of fundraising to renovate the adjacent Moultrie Playground. The project was officially completed and opened to the public in May 2020.

With both the park and the playground now fully renovated, residents and visitors have access to an incredible public space. Highlights of the renovated Moultrie Playground include:

• Brand new playground equipment, including the “Crab Trap,” an innovative net climbing structure with creative challenges for ages 5 to 12 that’s the first of its kind on the Charleston peninsula.
• State-of-the-art rubberized play surface.
• New basketball half-court.
• Pickleball court.
• Large lawn space for multiple uses and gatherings.
• New paths and trails for biking and walking.
• Flower gardens and new plantings.
• An area for off-street food truck parking.
• Additional seating and picnic areas.

Through a public-private partnership model, the Conservancy works with the city’s Parks Department as well as community leaders, neighborhoods and engaged citizens to transform and activate the city’s parks and green spaces. The Moultrie Playground Renovation Committee raised more than $300,000 for the project. Committee co-chairs were Katherine Cooney, Charles Darby, Jessica Gibadlo and Ellie Gray.

“This is another incredible example of how the Charleston Parks Conservancy works with neighbors, private donors and the City of Charleston to create stunning public spaces and connect people to their parks,” said Tom McGuire, executive director of the Conservancy. “We are grateful to our fundraising committee, the many private donors and our staff for their hard work on this project. We know residents, visitors and families will be enjoying this space for years to come.”

Significant donors to the project included a $50,000 gift from The Beach Co.; a $28,500 donation from The McCarty Fund (Laura and JR Barnhart) as well as two anonymous donations of $35,000 and $25,000 each.

Dr. Frederick Reed donated $50,000 specifically for the installation of a pickleball court. The pickleball court at Moultrie Playground is the first outdoor court on the Charleston peninsula. Pickleball is a blend of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It’s played with a lightweight paddle smaller than a tennis racquet and a plastic ball with holes similar to a wiffle ball.

Reed was already a Park Angel volunteer with the Conservancy and when renovation plans began to develop at Moultrie Playground, Reed was eager to offer financial support. “I played basketball there. I played tennis there with my children. It’s a great central gathering spot,” he said. “As an orthopedic surgeon, I’m a supporter of helping people get exercise outdoors, and Moultrie Playground is an opportunity for us to make that happen.”

As with its other park renovation and beautification projects, the Charleston Parks Conservancy and its team of volunteer Park Angels will maintain the plantings and horticulture spaces within the park. Interested volunteers can learn more at www.charlestonparksconservancy.org/volunteer.