Schematic designs include water, art

The lot bordered by Concord, Washington, Calhoun and Laurens streets has been mostly empty for years, essentially a field since the low-income homes there were torn down 16 years ago.

But the city of Charleston hopes to make it a more interactive, engaging space by possibly putting a hotel and some retail and office space on the site. However, the lion's share will be used to create the much-discussed Concord Park.

Managing principal member Brian Jenest from land design firm ColeJenest & Stone unveiled the first schematic design for the area on Thursday. Several of the elements were those suggested by members of the Charleston public who attended an open charrette in February that asked for their ideas of what should and shouldn't be in the new park.

Jenest said that the study showed that people liked the idea of garden rooms, water features such as fountains, ample seating, places that were shaded with both architecture and vegetation, and public art pieces. Jenest said that Mayor Joe Riley has started to get together some artists who would contribute their talents.

"We're really excited about the art feature of this, whether it's paving or sculptures or railings," Jenest said. "We're hoping to get some local or regional artists to do that."

The design presented last week included a playground, picnic area, soccer fields and a possible "sports run" that would have a small basketball court and a hopscotch area. There is also a consideration in the plan for one corner of the park to be designated as a dog-friendly area.

"We don't want dogs to take over the park and we don't want to have a dog park, per se, but we figured it would be good for them to have a designated space," Jenest said during his presentation.

He said that the Concord Park designers got some of the ideas for features that ended up on the schematic design by looking at area parks like Waterfront, Hampton Park and Marion Square. However, they also looked to parks outside the Southeast, like Bryant Park in New York City. Some of the ideas that came from those parks include a children's maze, arboretum and a fountain that could be turned off and therefore double as a performance stage.

While most at the sparsely attended meeting at Charleston County Main Library nodded their approval, there was one voice of concern.

"Portable seating and portable tables? No, no, no, no, no," said Francis Cain Jr., who lives nearby. "They can become missiles and they can walk away."

He also expressed concern about upkeep of bathrooms, what time of night the park would close and trespassers. Charleston deputy park director Matt Compton told him Concord Park would likely be locked up around 11 p.m.

"We started working on this about a year ago," Jenest said. "And we've still got a long way to go."

Reach Sophia Rodriguez at 937-5538 or srodriguez@postandcourier.com.