Dorchester County considers land purchase to expand Old Beech Hill State Park # Dorchester County considers land purchase to expand Old Beech Hill State Park Dorchester County is considering the purchase of more than 1,000 acres of land in an effort to add open space in the Lowcountry.
live5news.com · Maitane Orue · September 9, 2026
Dorchester County considers land purchase to expand Old Beech Hill State Park
# Dorchester County considers land purchase to expand Old Beech Hill State Park
Dorchester County is considering the purchase of more than 1,000 acres of land in an effort to add open space in the Lowcountry.
By Maitane Orue
Published: Sep. 8, 2026 at 8:05 PM EDT| Updated: 16 minutes ago
RIDGEVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) — Dorchester County is considering the purchase of more than 1,000 acres of land in an effort to add open space in the Lowcountry.
The Open Space Institute is asking the county for greenbelt funds to purchase more than 1,000 acres of the Janus Timber Tract on Old Beech Hill.
### Funding split between county and state
Dorchester County would pay half of the $8 million cost, while the Open Space Institute is asking the South Carolina Conservation Bank for the other half.
The land would become part of Old Beech Hill State Park, making the park 80 percent larger.
“See what basically is a green belt buffer, a true green belt that constrains that development,” David Chinnis, Dorchester County Council said.
### Goal is to limit development
One of the goals of acquiring the land is to halt development, which local leaders say is inevitable as more people move to the area.
“Going to try to fit in here one way or the other, and this allows us to constrain where they’re going to fit,” Chinnis said.
Officials say the purchase would take away 20 development units while preserving greenspace.
The South Carolina Forestry Commission would take ownership of the tract, making it a public space.
A decision on whether the purchase will be approved is still pending.
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