A Big Piece of Charleston Land Gets a Safety Net

A land trust is asking for ten million dollars. The group wants to save a huge piece of land. The tract sits in Charleston County. It is near Adams Run. It covers about two thousand three hundred sixty four acres.

The trust wants money from a rural greenbelt program. The county panel approved the request. The funds would come from that program. They would be used to protect the Avocet Tract. The land would turn into a public forest. It would be kept safe from future building.

Justin Park helps lead land protection. He said the group is racing against time. Charleston County and Dorchester County are growing. There is very little land left. Chris Dubuque leads greenbelt work. He said a tract this size is rare. The land has pines and wetlands. It has old rice culture. It has stayed in a similar shape for years. Col. William Washington once used the land. He was a cousin of President George Washington.

The plan is to make a state park. The land would go to the state forestry commission. That group would guard it. If the council approves, it would be the largest greenbelt project funded so far. Park said the land could open to the public in about two years.