Theodora Park is a small public park in
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina, the county seat of Charleston County, and the principal city in the Charleston–North Charleston metropolitan area. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint o ...
operated by the City of Charleston. The park was masterminded by David Rawle, public relations and marketing firm founder, who lives nearby in the historic
Ansonborough Ansonborough is a neighborhood in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1726, Captain George Anson acquired a 64-acre tract from Thomas Gadsden. Anson's lands were divided into smaller parcels for development, and several streets were named either for his ...
neighborhood. The park, named for his mother, is one of Charleston's most unusual pocket parks.
Previously, a playground known as the Ansonborough Tot Lot occupied the location, but it was underused; there were few children in the neighborhood, and a newer playground opened not far away. The design for the new park was inspired by
Paley Park
Paley Park is a pocket park located at 3 East 53rd Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on the former site of the Stork Club. Designed by the landscape architectural firm of Zion Breen Richardson Associate ...
in New York City on 53rd Street.
The centerpiece of the park is a 32-foot-long fountain pool with handmade ceramic tiles by the noted artist Paul Heroux. The park also features a gate made by Charleston blacksmith Philip Simmons. The gate is presented as a stand-alone piece of art.
Sheila Wertimer was the landscape architect for the project and the Charleston Parks Conservancy helps maintain the park.
''The New York Times'' called Theodora Park "a beautifully tranquil public garden", and ''The Post and Courier'' described it as "a new gem . . . a model for the future".
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The park was officially opened to the public on Saturday, June 6, 2015.
Notes
Parks in Charleston, South Carolina
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