UPDATE on 9/9/21: Due to the inclement weather, this event has been tentatively postponed until Friday, September 24th.
—Original Post Below—
Press Release
Credit Charleston Parks Conservancy
The Charleston Parks Conservancy, residents, and donors will gather in September to celebrate the renovation of Moultrie Playground near Colonial Lake. The public is invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony with Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg.
The event is 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm on Thursday, September 9th. Moultrie Playground is located at 41 Ashley Ave. Attendees can enjoy family activities, pickleball pickup, music, food, and dancing.
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 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.
Donations are still being accepted for the ongoing maintenance of Moultrie Playground as well as more than 20 other parks and playgrounds the Conservancy maintains within the City of Charleston. To donate, visit www.
