Awards & Distinctions

2020

  • Mount Pleasant Magazine Best Dog Park: Palmetto Island County Park
  • Government Technology’s Special Districts Technology Innovation Award
  • 2020 Lehman Award for Park Foundation Excellence

2019

  • Nationally Accredited by Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies
  • International Coalition of Sites of Conscience: McLeod Plantation Historic Site and Caw Caw Interpretive Center
  • Spirit of Cooperation Award by Community Pride, Inc. of Charleston County
  • Starfish Aquatics 5 Star Waterpark Award
  • United States Lifesaving Association Gold Seal Award for Junior Guard Program 
  • United States Lifesaving Association Advanced Certified Agency
  • Mount Pleasant Magazine Best Boat Ramp: Remley’s Point
  • Mount Pleasant Magazine Best Place to Fish: Mount Pleasant Pier
  • Mount Pleasant Magazine Best Dog Park: Palmetto Island County Park
  • USA Today Nations Best Campground: James Island County Park
  • Campendium Best County Park Camping: James Island County Park
  • Campendium Campers Choice: James Island County Park
  • Charleston City Paper “Best of” Award for Best Park & Best Place for Family Fun: James Island County Park
  • Certified South Carolina Clean Marina: Cooper River County Park

2018

  • Starfish Aquatics 5 Star Waterpark Award
  • United States Lifesaving Association Gold Seal Award for Junior Guard Program 
  • United States Lifesaving Association Advanced Certified Agency
  • Mount Pleasant Magazine Best Place to View the Ravenel Bridge: Mount Pleasant Pier
  • Campendium Campers Choice: James Island County Park
  • Charleston City Paper “Best of” Award for Best Park & Best Place for Family Fun: James Island County Park
  • Certified South Carolina Clean Marina: Cooper River County Park

2017

  • American Society of Civil Engineers, South Carolina Project of the Year: SK8 Charleston
  • The United States Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship Certification of Registration of Apprenticeship Program
  • South Atlantic Lifesaving Association Lifeguard Championships: 2nd Place
  • Post & Courier Charleston’s Choice Winner for best dog park: James Island County Park Dog Park
  • Post & Courier Charleston’s Choice Winner for best campground: Campground at James Island County Park
  • Post & Courier Charleston’s Choice Winner for best park: James Island County Park
  • Post & Courier Charleston’s Choice Finalist for best Lowcountry event: Holiday Festival of Lights
  • Post & Courier Charleston’s Choice Finalist for best dog park: Palmetto Islands County Park Dog Park
  • Post & Courier Charleston’s Choice Finalist for best dog park: Wannamaker County Park Dog Park
  • Post & Courier Charleston’s Choice Finalist for best pet-friendly event: Yappy Hour
  • Post & Courier Charleston’s Choice Finalist for best birthday party venue: Charleston County Parks
  • The Independent 10 of the Most Important Civil Rights Sites in the USA: McLeod Plantation Historic Site


2016

  • United States Lifesaving Association Beach Safety Challenge Award
  • United States Lifesaving Association Gold Seal Award for Junior Guard Program
  • South Atlantic Lifesaving Association Lifeguard Championships: 4th Place
  • Starfish Aquatics 5-Star Waterpark Award 
  • Ducks Unlimited Diamond Life Sponsor Award
  • Post & Courier Charleston’s Choice Winner for best dog park: James Island County Park Dog Park
  • Post & Courier Charleston’s Choice Winner for best campground: Campground at James Island County Park
  • Post & Courier Charleston’s Choice Winner for best park: James Island County Park
  • Post & Courier Charleston’s Choice Winner for best fishing spot: Folly Beach Fishing Pier
  • Post & Courier Charleston’s Choice Winner for best Lowcountry event: Holiday Festival of Lights
  • Post & Courier Charleston’s Choice Finalist for best dog park: Palmetto Islands County Park Dog Park
  • Post & Courier Charleston’s Choice Finalist for best dog park: Wannamaker County Park Dog Park
  • Post & Courier Charleston’s Choice Finalist for best park: Wannamaker County Park 
  • Post & Courier Charleston’s Choice Finalist for best pet-friendly event: Dog Day Afternoon
  • Post & Courier Charleston’s Choice Finalist for best birthday party venue: Charleston County Parks
  • Post & Courier Charleston’s Choice Finalist for best summer camp: Charleston County Adventure Camp
  • Government Social Media LLC Second Place for Government Use of Humor on Social Media

 
 2015

  • United States Lifesaving Association Beach Safety Challenge Award
  • United States Lifesaving Association Gold Seal Award for Junior Guard Program
  • South Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects Merit Award for the Stono River County Park Master Plan
  • Outstanding Composting or Organics Recycling Program - Carolina Recycling Association
  • Best Restored Beach Award by the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association: Folly Beach County Park
  • James Island County Park - Best Park and Best Place for Family Fun by Charleston City Paper
  • James Island County Park - Runner up for Best Attraction or Park from the Lowcountry Parent Mom’s Choice Awards
  • Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark - Runner up for Best Place to Wear Out Your Kid from the Lowcountry Parent Mom’s Choice Awards
  • North Charleston Wannamaker County Park - Best Park from the Berkeley Independent: Best of Berkeley
  • Dr. Beach’s Top 10 Beaches in America - Kiawah Beachwalker Park

 2014 

  • Nationally Accredited by Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies
  • United States Lifesaving Association Beach Safety Challenge Award
  • United States Lifesaving Association Gold Seal Award for Junior Guard Program
  • Georgia Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects Merit Award for the McLeod Plantation Master Plan
  • Dedication to REACH Program from College of Charleston 
  • South Carolina Smart Business Recycling Award, SC DHEC Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling 
  • Lowcountry Parent Mom’s Award 
  • Mount Pleasant Pier - Community Pride Captain Pride Award 
  • Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium Carolina Clear Partner 
  • Dr. Beach’s Top 10 Beaches in America - Kiawah Beachwalker Park 
  • USA Today 10 Best Reader’s Choice Award: 3rd Place, Holiday Festival of Lights 

 2013

  • Historic Charleston Foundation Robert N.S. and Patti Foos Whitelaw Founders Award for strategic acquisition and protection of historically important places in the Lowcountry for the McLeod Plantation and Ashem Property projects 
  • Preservation Society of Charleston Pro Merito Award for the stabilization project at McLeod Plantation 
  • Splash Island Waterpark - Best Playground by Mount Pleasant Magazine 5 star audits 
  • James Island County Park - Best Place for Family Fun by Charleston City Paper 
  • Holiday Festival of Lights - Top 20 Events in Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society 
  • Dr. Beach’s Top 10 Beaches in America - Kiawah Beachwalker Park 
  • United States Lifesaving Association Beach Safety Challenge award 
  • United States Lifesaving Association "Gold Seal" award for Junior Lifeguard program 

 2012 

  • Community Pride of Charleston County Pride Award for Lowcountry Cajun Festival 
  • Wannamaker County Park - Best of Berkeley County Parks Runner-up by the Berkeley County Gazette and The Berkeley Independent 
  • Wannamaker County Park - Best of Berkeley County Dog Park Runner-up by the Berkeley County Gazette and The Berkeley Independent 
  • Holiday Festival of Lights - Top 100 Events - by the American Bus Association 
  • James Island County Park - Best Park by Charleston City Paper 
  • James Island County Park - Best Place for Family Fun by Charleston City Paper 
  • Holiday Festival of Lights - Top 10 Light Show 
  • Dr. Beach’s Top 10 Beaches in America - Kiawah Beachwalker Park
  • United States Lifesaving Association Beach Safety Challenge award 

 2011

  • Wannamaker County Park - Best of Berkeley County Parks Runner-up by the Berkeley County Gazette and The Berkeley Independent 
  • Lowcountry Leaders in Event Recycling Award for Lowcountry Cajun Festival Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark 
  • Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark - Top 5 Best Public Waterparks by Waterparks & Resorts Today/Aquatics International 
  • Isle of Palms County Park - Best of Berkeley County Award for Best Lowcountry Beach by the Berkeley County Gazette and The Berkeley Independent 
  • James Island County Park - Best Park by Charleston City Paper 
  • Top 10 Light Show - Holiday Festival of Lights 
  • Dr. Beach’s Top 10 Beaches in America - Kiawah Beachwalker Park 
  • Campground at James Island County Park - Woodalls 4 Diamond Rating 
  • Campground at James Island County Park - Good Sams Club Top 100 Park 
  • United States Lifesaving Association Beach Safety Challenge award 

 2010 

  • Wannamaker County Park - Best of Berkeley County Award by the Berkeley County Gazette and The Berkeley Independent 
  • Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark - Top 5 Best Public Waterparks by Waterparks & Resorts Today/Aquatics International 
  • James Island County Park - Best Park by Charleston City Paper 
  • Outstanding Leadership Environmental Education Award for the Master Naturalist Program 
  • Dr. Beach’s Top 10 Beaches in America - Kiawah Beachwalker Park 
  • United States Lifesaving Association Beach Safety Challenge award 

 2009 

  • Community Pride, Inc. of Charleston County Captain’s Pride Award for Sound Environmental Stewardship Efforts and New Initiatives 
  • United States Lifesaving Association National Award for beach safety awareness 
  • Wannamaker County Park - Best of Berkeley County Award by the Berkeley County Gazette and The Berkeley Independent 
  • Dr. Beach’s Top 10 Beaches in America - Kiawah Beachwalker Park 
  • United States Lifesaving Association Beach Safety Challenge award 
  • Merit Award from American Society of Landscape Architects for Historic Battlefield Parks Master Plan 

 2008

  • ADDY Award for "Let Yourself Go" campaign 
  • Association for Outdoor Recreation Education David J. Webb Award for our Outdoor Recreation Program 
  • Dr. Beach’s Top 10 Beaches in America - Kiawah Beachwalker Park

 2006 

  • James Island County Park - Best Park by Charleston City Paper 
  • James Island County Park - Best Place for Family Fun by Charleston City Paper 

 2005 

  • Federal Secretary of the Interior National Trails Designation awarded to Mullet Hall 
  • James Island County Park - Best Place to Walk Your Dog by Charleston City Paper 
  • James Island County Park - Best Park by Charleston City Paper 
  • U.S. Department of the Interior and National Parks Service National Trail Designation at Mullet Hall Equestrian Center 

 2004

  • Platinum 2003 Award from Ellis & Associates for safety 
  • National Afterschool Award for Community Education Program 
  • James Island County Park - Best Park by Charleston City Paper 
  • James Island County Park - Best Place to Walk Your Dog by Charleston City Paper 
  • National Recreation & Park Association National Aquatic Branch "Excellence in Aquatics Class II" Award 
  • Folly Beach Fishing Pier - Best Fishing Spot by Charleston City Paper 

 2003 

  • Charleston Soil and Water Conservation District Conservationist of the Year - Caw Caw Interpretive Center 
  • Folly Beach Fishing Pier - Best Fishing Spot by Charleston City Paper 

 2001

  • James Island County Park - Best Place for Family Fun by Charleston City Paper 
  • Folly Beach Fishing Pier - Best Fishing Spot by Charleston City Paper 

 2000

  • Historic Preservation Award Presented by Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation, SC Department of Archives and History, and the Office of the Governor 
  • Folly Beach Fishing Pier - Best Fishing Spot by Charleston City Paper 

 1997

  • Merit Award from American Society of Landscape Architects for North Charleston Wannamaker County Park master plan 

 1996

  • World Waterpark Association Commitment to Excellence Award 
  • South Carolina Chapter of the American Institute of Architects award for the design of the Caw Caw Interpretive Center 
  • Merit Award from South Carolina Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects for Caw Caw Interpretive Center (unbuilt category) 

 1995 

  • South Carolina Recreation & Parks Association Art and Humanities Award for Festival Hispano

 1994 

  • Southeastern Tourism Society Award for the Holiday Festival of Lights 
  • South Carolina Recreation & Parks Association Award for the Cajun Festival 
  • Recognition of James Island County Park by MUSC for Rehabilitation Week and by the City of Charleston for handicapped accessibility 

 1993 

  • ADDY award for full-page, 4 color ad in the Post and Courier 

 1989 

  • National Community Education Association Outstanding Community Organization Award 

 1984 

  • Several ADDY Awards 

 1980 

  • South Carolina Association of Community Education Allied Organization Award for the cooperative efforts between the Charleston County School Board and County PRT towards the Community Education/Recreation Program in Charleston County 
  • 35th Annual South Carolina Recreation and Park Society Special Recognition Award for outstanding contributions to leisure services in South Carolina 

 1979

  • Charleston Pride special award for the care taken in preserving the natural environment during the development of Palmetto Islands County Park 
  • South Carolina Overall Recreation Plan (SCORP) Exchange Council Award for the development of Palmetto Islands County Park 

 1978

  • Governor’s Conference on Travel Most Outstanding Community Sponsored Event of 1977 for Miss USA pageant