Conservation Leadership Spotlight: 160-acre Harrell Farm Protected in Town of Meggett
A recent land protection success in the Town of Meggett perfectly demonstrates the power of partnership in conservation. The Open Space Institute (OSI) worked with the Town of Meggett to secure funding from the South Carolina Conservation Bank (SCCB) and the Charleston County Greenbelt Program to permanently protect the Harrell family’s stunning 160-acre property and turn it into a welcoming town park.
Over the last decade, rural Charleston County has faced increasingly intense growth pressure. CVSC commends OSI for targeting an area where development would be inappropriate and successfully conserving it for the greater benefit of the surrounding community.
CVSC also extends our sincerest gratitude to the Meggett Town Council and Charleston County Council for their support of the Greenbelt Program, as well as the state legislators who voted in support of the SCCB funding that made this acquisition possible, specifically Senators Chip Campsen (R, District 43) and Sean Bennett (R, District 38), and Representative Gary Brewer (R, District 114). Their continued support of this funding source ensures that protecting land and water in South Carolina remains a top priority in the statehouse.
Situated where Oyster House Creek meets the Wadmalaw Sound, this property boasts over a mile of waterfront, wooded upland acreage, open pasture, and pristine marsh. Oyster House Creek has been designated by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources as an Outstanding Resource Water for its excellent shellfish harvesting potential, making conservation essential for expanding public access and preserving this beloved resource for generations to come. Rather than building a major subdivision with 50 homes and 20 docks that would crowd and pollute Oyster House Creek, this property will instead become Harrell Family Park, providing ample opportunities for paddle sports, fishing, crabbing, shrimping, birdwatching, and strolling under shade-bearing pecan trees and grand live oaks.
We all benefit from conservation in so many ways: access to water and green space provides immense and positive public health effects, improves quality of life, and can drastically offset the impacts felt from urban sprawl. CVSC thanks our partners in conservation and the legislators who remain steadfastly committed to protecting land and water for the benefit of all in South Carolina. Every acre gets us closer to achieving our 10 million acre goal!
Make sure to get outside and enjoy this stunning park, and thank your local and state representatives for supporting conservation in your community.
Learn more about OSI and this project here: