Community members are buying inscribed bricks to support St. Andrew’s Parks
I’ve long been jealous of people whose names are inscribed in the bricks on King Street. How did I miss that opportunity?
I’ve considered taking a black marker into town on a Second Sunday to write my name on a brick for a photo op. When I walk that stretch around Society Street, I spend more time looking at my feet than the traffic. I’ve found friends’ names, alongside Jimmy Buffett and Shepard Fairey.
My home is West Ashley now, so when St. Andrew’s Parks & Playground offered inscribed bricks. I jumped right on it.
I was soon invited to a reception at Home Team BBQ. My brick donation included me as a donor to the new Legacy Foundation. Free BBQ, right? Along with other supporters, I got a glimpse into what St. Andrew’s Parks & Recreation means to our community and saw firsthand the respect and affection families had for the President of the park’s newly minted Legacy Foundation, Joshua Singleton.
Married to wife Alisha, the couple have two sons, Jason and Liam. Originally from Loris, SC, Joshua had been Athletic Director at SAPP since 2018 and is well familiar with the meaningful history the park shares with families in our neighborhood.
The park was started in 1945 by a group of parents on Playground Road. St. Andrew’s Parks & Playground is South Carolina’s oldest active park district hosting some active families for as many as four generations.
“To be in a place with so much history and being entwined with the community is overwhelming,” said Singleton.
The staff is all hands on deck for popular upcoming summer programs and camps. Camp spots for children ages 5 to 12, filled within 45 minutes of registration opening in March.
“Considering all our programs on Playground Road (Athletics, Afterschool, Summer Camp, and Tennis) we have over 5,100 annual participants,” said Singleton.
I loved hearing about the history of the park, the overwhelming success of their programs and the black and white pictures of past programs including a popular Boxing Program.
Excited about building for the future, Joshua is hopeful that the new Legacy Foundation will allow them to revamp and grow the scholarship program. They’ve already awarded more scholarships this year than ever before. They’d like to add programs, welcome more participants and eventually dream of building a new gym.
So join me, make a donation or buy a brick for $75 and make a difference in our community.
They have already placed their 4th order of inscribed bricks since the program recently reactivated. We walked around, admiring mine of course, and reading the inscriptions on bricks, from thanking favored coaches at the end of a season, in memory of loved ones, for particular students or to surprise or honor friends and family members, and a fun, “Look Alive, Kyle!” sports shout out.
For more information on how to support the SAPP Foundation or order your brick visit www.standrewsparksfoundation.com.
Stay healthy, my friends, and wave at me as I wander. Send ideas for upcoming columns to westashleywanderer@gmail.com.
