Lowcountry Lowline facts for kids

The Lowcountry Lowline is a cool new park being built in Charleston, South Carolina. It will be a long, narrow park, about 1.7 miles long, built on an old train track path. It will stretch from Mt. Pleasant Street to Courtland Street. Work on some parts of the park is set to begin in early 2021.

A New Park for Charleston

How the Park Came to Be

The train line that the Lowline will use was first built in the early 1830s. It was part of the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company. This company ran some of the first regular trains in the United States that were pulled by steam engines. During the American Civil War, the company that took over kept supplies moving into Charleston. Some old train and warehouse buildings from that time are still standing today.

In 2015, a group called "Friends of the Lowcountry Lowline" made a deal with Norfolk Southern, a big railroad company. They agreed to buy 1.7 miles of land along Charleston's peninsula within two years. This old train path had been there since the 1820s but hadn't been used for over ten years. In 2017, Norfolk Southern and the city of Charleston completed the deal. The land cost $4.6 million, which was much cheaper than expected! The city also bought two other pieces of land next to the old train line. These might be used to build homes that people can afford. In May 2018, workers started removing the old train tracks and switches. Also, results from checking the land to make sure it's safe for the environment will be shared in 2020.

What the Lowline Will Look Like

When it's finished, the Lowcountry Lowline will be the second biggest park in downtown Charleston. It will have paths for walking and biking along the peninsula. It will also be a project to help manage floods. It will have a "wetland park" designed to collect rainwater. People often compare this project to the New York City High Line or Atlanta's growing BeltLine.

The Lowline is expected to cost $30 million to build. A study in 2016 guessed that after twenty years, the Lowline could bring about $4.8 billion to Charleston's economy. There are also plans for a walking bridge over the Ashley River. This bridge would connect the West Ashley Greenway to downtown Charleston and might eventually link up with the Lowline. The "Friends of the Lowcountry" group asked for ideas from the community in February 2020 after showing their early plan for the park. Construction and early funding for the park will start in early 2021. The park is expected to be built in different stages over the next ten years.

Helping with Flooding

Charleston has often had problems with flooding. The Lowline is expected to help reduce floodwaters in some parts of the city. One park planned for the Lowline is Newmarket Park. This will be a special "storm water wetland" that will help drain the nearby New Market Creek. Also, the planned Poinsette Park will be a big, open space that can hold water. The early plan for the Lowline says that collecting and cleaning all the water that runs off the raised roads is a main goal of the project. Plants that naturally grow in the area will be used on the Lowline. They will be an important part of how the park helps manage water.

Making Biking Safer

Charleston has also had issues with bike rider safety. In Charleston's first study about bike paths, the Lowline was a key part of the plan for a strong network of bike paths in the city. The bike path on the Lowline will have at least two 6-foot wide lanes. These lanes will be separated by a divider and have special places to cross. Also, the Lowcountry Rapid Transit System might have a central spot for public transport near the Lowline on Mt. Pleasant Street. The city is also looking to build homes that people can afford on F and H streets.