Lexington’s ParksLexington’s Parks

Currently, the Town of Lexington Currently, the Town of Lexington owns and maintains four parks:owns and maintains four parks:

Virginia Hylton ParkVirginia Hylton Park Corley Street ParkCorley Street Park Gibson Pond ParkGibson Pond Park Palmetto Collegiate InstitutePalmetto Collegiate Institute

Under planning/construction Under planning/construction :: Willie B. Caractor Park Willie B. Caractor Park (between (between

Hendrix St. & Grey St.)Hendrix St. & Grey St.) Old Mill Park Old Mill Park

Virginia Hylton ParkVirginia Hylton Park Playgrounds (toddler, older Playgrounds (toddler, older

children’s and special needs) children’s and special needs) Restroom facilities Restroom facilities Walking trail Walking trail Horseshoe pit Horseshoe pit Koi pond Koi pond Creek with overlooks Creek with overlooks Day Lily Garden Day Lily Garden Butterfly Garden Butterfly Garden Iris Garden Iris Garden Camellia Garden Camellia Garden Covered gazebos with grills Covered gazebos with grills Covered large stage shelter with Covered large stage shelter with

grill, ceiling fans, lights, and electric grill, ceiling fans, lights, and electric outletsoutlets (reservations needed) (reservations needed)

Corley Street ParkCorley Street Park

Spray Fountain Spray Fountain (Open (Open Memorial Day weekend to Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend) Labor Day weekend)

Playground structure, Playground structure, swings, large slide swings, large slide

2 Picnic shelters with 2 Picnic shelters with grillsgrills

Restroom facilities Restroom facilities

Parks Benefits to IndividualsParks Benefits to Individuals Provide safe places for Provide safe places for

children to playchildren to play Build family unityBuild family unity Promote relaxation & Promote relaxation &

helps reduce stresshelps reduce stress Increase community prideIncrease community pride Increase property valueIncrease property value Assist in reducing crimeAssist in reducing crime Help protect the Help protect the

environmentenvironment

"In my view "In my view wholesome pleasure, wholesome pleasure, sport and recreation sport and recreation are as vital to this are as vital to this nation as productive nation as productive work and should have work and should have a large share in the a large share in the national budget."  national budget." 

~ Walt ~ Walt DisneyDisney

The Town of Lexington has 358 acres The Town of Lexington has 358 acres available for development of parks and has available for development of parks and has future plans to expand and connect parks, future plans to expand and connect parks, neighborhoods, and other amenities with neighborhoods, and other amenities with

sidewalks and walking/biking trails.sidewalks and walking/biking trails.

Gibson Pond ParkGibson Pond Park

History of Gibson PondHistory of Gibson Pond Fed by Twelve Mile Creek, Fed by Twelve Mile Creek,

the pond once was a site for the pond once was a site for gristmills, sawmills and small gristmills, sawmills and small cotton millcotton mill

Formerly known as George’s Formerly known as George’s Pond, the property was Pond, the property was purchased by Murray Gibson purchased by Murray Gibson in 1943in 1943

For nearly 30 years, Gibson For nearly 30 years, Gibson Pond was a popular Pond was a popular community recreational areacommunity recreational area

Property closed to the public Property closed to the public in 1972in 1972

Amenities in Gibson Pond ParkAmenities in Gibson Pond Park

Features include:Features include: Fishing pond & dock (no swimming)Fishing pond & dock (no swimming) Boat ramp (no gas-powered boats)Boat ramp (no gas-powered boats) Walking trailsWalking trails Porch swings & children’s swingsPorch swings & children’s swings Three Picnic shelters Three Picnic shelters

Main, large shelter has built in BBQ pit, charcoal grills, stone Main, large shelter has built in BBQ pit, charcoal grills, stone fireplace, and picnic tables that seat 104 (reservations taken)fireplace, and picnic tables that seat 104 (reservations taken)

Two smaller shelters include charcoal grills, picnic tables and Two smaller shelters include charcoal grills, picnic tables and ceiling fans (no reservations taken)ceiling fans (no reservations taken)

Gibson Pond-Main ShelterGibson Pond-Main Shelter

The South Carolina Department The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Recreational Trails Program Recreational Trails Program awarded $82,818.00 on awarded $82,818.00 on September 12, 2007 to develop September 12, 2007 to develop an ADA compliant trail at an ADA compliant trail at Gibson Pond Park as well as a Gibson Pond Park as well as a picnic shelter and a handicapped picnic shelter and a handicapped parking pad.parking pad.

The trail is part of the Town’s The trail is part of the Town’s overall Master Plan to provide overall Master Plan to provide interconnecting walking interconnecting walking between communities that can between communities that can be accessed by all citizens in be accessed by all citizens in Lexington.Lexington.

Gibson Pond Park Trail GrantGibson Pond Park Trail Grant

Palmetto Collegiate Institute Palmetto Collegiate Institute

Historical landmark that Historical landmark that was built in the post-was built in the post-bellum period after bellum period after Sherman’s troops marched Sherman’s troops marched through South Carolina.through South Carolina.

Served as a private school Served as a private school that was established in that was established in 1881 and closed in 1911.1881 and closed in 1911.

When operating as a When operating as a school, PCI was home to school, PCI was home to first through seventh first through seventh grades for many Lexington grades for many Lexington children.children.

Palmetto Collegiate Institute AmenitiesPalmetto Collegiate Institute Amenities

Renovated building includes historical displays, meeting space Renovated building includes historical displays, meeting space for up to 500 people and a genealogical research room.for up to 500 people and a genealogical research room.

Gardens are named in honor of Leonard L. Price as he Gardens are named in honor of Leonard L. Price as he generously contributed remaining $150,000 needed to complete generously contributed remaining $150,000 needed to complete the renovation project.the renovation project.

Willie B. Caractor ParkWillie B. Caractor Park Future Town Park that is being built with generous support from Future Town Park that is being built with generous support from

private donations.private donations. Park will primarily benefit underprivileged children who live in Park will primarily benefit underprivileged children who live in

the immediately surrounding area, which is categorized as a low the immediately surrounding area, which is categorized as a low to moderate income area.to moderate income area.

Total project equals Total project equals over $200,000, but over $200,000, but only a small only a small amount more is amount more is needed to complete needed to complete the project.the project.

Great example of Great example of the Town forming the Town forming private partnerships private partnerships to bring wonderful to bring wonderful things to things to Lexington.Lexington.

Amenities at Caractor ParkAmenities at Caractor Park

Caractor Park PartnersCaractor Park Partners

Golden State Foods Foundation of LexingtonGolden State Foods Foundation of Lexington Lexington Medical CenterLexington Medical Center The First Citizens FoundationThe First Citizens Foundation The Wachovia FoundationThe Wachovia Foundation MichelinMichelin First Community BankFirst Community Bank Publix Supermarkets CharitiesPublix Supermarkets Charities

How to HelpHow to Help

Make a cash donation to Make a cash donation to Caractor ParkCaractor Park

Make a cash donation to one Make a cash donation to one of the other Town Parksof the other Town Parks

Make an in-kind donation to Make an in-kind donation to a park projecta park project

Help keep our parks cleanHelp keep our parks clean

"Play for grown people "Play for grown people is recreation - the is recreation - the renewal of life; play for renewal of life; play for children is growth - the children is growth - the gaining of life." gaining of life."

~ ~ Joseph Lee, Joseph Lee, Father of the Father of the

American PlaygroundAmerican Playground

The Town of Lexington’s parksThe Town of Lexington’s parks

are an extremely important part ofare an extremely important part of

our community’s quality of life.our community’s quality of life.

For more information on howFor more information on how

You can personally SupportYou can personally Support

Lexington’s Town’s ParksLexington’s Town’s Parks, ,

contact Julie Anderson Washburn, contact Julie Anderson Washburn,

community & corporate coordinator, community & corporate coordinator,

at 803/358-1563 orat 803/358-1563 or

jwashburn@lexsc.comjwashburn@lexsc.com..