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About

The Story of the Park

Origin

Theodora Park was dedicated on June 5, 2015. Previously, this small property in Charleston’s Ansonborough neighborhood was a fenced-in, neglected public space. It was covered with magnolia trees whose density and droppings kept the ground dirty, wet and buggy. At night, it felt dark and dangerous.

The property was on a prominent corner which David Rawle, a neighbor, passed by daily. He wished it could be beautiful. He kept wondering if he could help transform it into a small urban oasis that might inspire others to improve neglected and underutilized green spaces. And he hoped to do so in honor of his mother, a graceful and caring person, who loved nature and art.

Paley Park, the legendary pocket park in New York City, was an inspiration. That park, as vital today as it was when it opened more than half a century ago, honors the father of its catalyst, William Paley.

Charleston is famous for its beautiful private gardens. But since they are private, many people are unable to enjoy them. The concept of Theodora Park was to create a public space with the intention, individuality, and level of excellence associated with a space that is private.

David believed that there were two essential ingredients to turning that concept into reality: the collaboration of entities and individuals committed to excellence; the broad-based financial support from both private and public sectors.

Process

The collaboration began with the City of Charleston and Charleston Parks Conservancy, and it extended to a team of best-in-class designers and artisans.

Sheila Wertimer’s landscape design is brilliant in its simplicity. The layout is clear and unembellished, and the planting includes local staples such as live oaks, magnolias, palmettos, sasanquas, camellias, azaleas, red maples, jasmine, and holly ferns.

The park’s centerpiece is 32-ft.-long fountain pool, with 350 12x12” unique handmade tiles created by the noted ceramicist Paul Heroux. Heroux’s artistry is complemented by a wrought-iron gate forged by legendary Charleston master Philip Simmons himself. While Simmons’s work is in the collections of two of the Smithsonian Museums, it is only seen in its functional uses throughout Charleston – except at Theodora Park, where it is presented as what it is: art.

The park’s benches were specifically designed for one place: The Battery, an exquisite park at the tip of Manhattan in New York City. Praised for their exceptional beauty and comfort, these benches now only exist in two places!

Among Theodora Park’s most popular features are its moveable tables and chairs, which enable visitors to make their visit their own.

The park’s basket-weave brick pattern looks hand-made, rather than institutional. And subtle landscape lighting makes the park enjoyable and safe well into the evening. Throughout, the focus is on providing personal experiences in a place that feels personal and private, while being open and available for all to enjoy.

Believing that money follows ideas, David was successful at enlisting generous financial support from the City of Charleston and numerous private sector individuals. This public/private collaboration not only created Theodora Park, it has supported an endowment to assure the park’s high quality of maintenance well into the future.

Outcome

The response to Theodora Park has been heartening.

The New York Times called it “a beautifully tranquil public garden,” and the Charleston Post and Courier hailed it as “a model for the future.”

Most importantly, a diverse population of residents and visitors enjoy Theodora Park every day.