In Charleston, SC, the Eastside Garden Club has been dedicated to the ecological restoration, sustainable economic development, and neighborhood revitalization of its communities since 2020. The group has planted more than 130 trees to help mitigate heat islands and flooding in the most diverse and among the poorest neighborhoods in the city. They’ve worked with the Eastside Economic Development Corp., the Charleston Parks Conservancy and the Charleston Parks Department on numerous projects, including the renovation of Mary Watson Park, named for a beloved resident who ran a corner store and community hub for 50 years. They have created a popular “Yard of the Month” award, beautified the grounds of neighborhood churches, and planted next to Neighborhood House, a community center and soup kitchen for the homeless. The EGC’s vision is an ambitious re-imaging of Hampstead Mall and Columbus Street, the neighborhood’s traditional Main Street.
Eastside Garden Club builds community and engenders pride through its Garden of the Month program.
Years before founding the group, Steve Bailey could be seen picking up litter, pulling weeds, or “planting on my hands and knees beside my neighbors,” to improve Hampstead Mall, the city’s oldest public green space. Eastside Garden Club has evolved into a powerful volunteer group allied with a diverse coalition to help restore the safety and beauty of Hampstead. They have advocated for the park, raised money for its renewal, and garnered substantial support from the city. They played a key role in transforming a school district-owned, previously inaccessible quad of the park. This revitalized space now features landscaping, public Wi-Fi, and an amphitheater, and will be open to the public when school is not in session. In addition to their restoration work, they actively advocate for increased investment in community amenities and write op-eds to rally voter support to enhance the city’s parks, pools, and playgrounds, ensuring that these vital spaces are improved and accessible to all residents.
Community members plant beds of oleander, plumbago and canna lilies around the Neighborhood House Soup Kitchen in East Charleston.