Ashley River Site

Charleston County Parks has entered into a public-private partnership for a portion of our Ashley River site, also known as the former site of Baker Hospital, with the locally-owned Sea Fox Boat Company. This partnership will allow us to bring a public park to the Ashley River site. 

Charleston County Parks will continue to own the entire property. Charleston County Parks and Sea Fox have executed a 90-year lease, and the future public park on the site will be funded by tenant Sea Fox, allowing Charleston County Parks the ability to develop the park without the use of taxpayer funds. The rent paid by Sea Fox and its dry stack marina will also offset operations and maintenance of the future park. 

Ashley River Site Rendering

Ashley River Site drawing



Future Park

The future park will be approximately 46 acres in size, pending a site survey. Sea Fox will use the land it leases elsewhere on the site, approximately 11 acres, for boat manufacturing. 

Charleston County Parks will hold public engagement meetings in early 2024 to gather public input and learn what the community would like to have in this future park. However, possibilities that could be suitable amenities and features at the Ashley River Site include:

  • Open greenspace
  • Fishing/Crabbing Dock
  • Trails
  • Playground
  • Splash Pad Play area
  • Shelter that may be suitable for camps or other programs
  • Special events, yoga, children’s programming
  • Spectacular sunsets and waterfront views


Timeline

Sea Fox is currently in a due diligence phase, that includes governmental permitting before any site work will begin. Charleston County Parks will begin public engagement meetings in early 2024. Check back to this site for meeting dates and locations. 


About the Site

Locally known as the site of the former Baker Hospital, the property is located just south of Cosgrove Avenue, and west of I-26 on the Ashley River – a unique location in the center of the Peninsula south of I-526. The Baker site was donated to CCPRC in 2015 through funding support from Charleston residents Michael and Jenny Messner of The Speedwell Foundation, and their business partner Paul Shiverick and his wife Betsy. Tax funds were not used in attaining the site.

In addition to being the former site of Baker Hospital, the property was the site of a phosphate processing plant. The site’s history created a brownfield, which requires environmental efforts to make the area suitable for recreational use.