Parks Conservancy Plans Colonial Lake Renovation

The City of Charleston and the non-profit Charleston County Parks Conservancy are moving forward with a $5 million renovation at Colonial Lake. 

Here's how the Parks Conservancy describes the project:

Long-awaited improvements to Colonial Lake are on the horizon. The Charleston Parks Conservancy and the City of Charleston have been working on a design for several years. ...

The cost of the project, including design, engineering and construction, is more than $5 million. The City of Charleston will contribute approximately $4 million, and the Charleston Parks Conservancy will raise another $1.2 million to complete construction and fund ongoing maintenance of the park.

The Conservancy (launched) a capital campaign in late spring/early summer. Construction will begin in spring 2014.

Here's the latest news on the project, according to the Post and Courier:

The work will create two new openings that link the lake with the Ashley, and they will be operable so the lake can be flushed more thoroughly. Also, its level will rise about a foot or two, within about 18 inches of the top, the paper reported.

“The intent is to significantly improve the water quality to match, as much as possible, the Ashley River,” Conservancy Executive Director Harry Lesesne said.