Colonial Lake, Park in Harleston Village, Charleston, South Carolina
Colonial Lake is a small, tide-fed pond in the Harleston Village neighborhood of downtown Charleston, South Carolina. It sits at the center of a public park with paved walkways, benches, oak trees, and open lawn areas on all sides.
The land was set aside for public use in 1768, making it one of the city's earliest shared spaces. The pond was deepened and connected to the Ashley River between 1881 and 1899, when oyster shell sidewalks, stone walls, and oak trees were also added.
Along the Rutledge Avenue wall, people sit and watch others go by, a habit that gives the park the feel of an outdoor living room. Fishing from the pond's edge is also common, as tidal water brings mullet, shrimp, and flounder into the lake from the harbor.
The park is within walking distance of most of downtown Charleston and easy to find in the Harleston Village neighborhood. A full loop around the lake is short and flat, making it a good starting point for exploring the surrounding streets.
The lake connects directly to Charleston Harbor through a pipe running under the city streets, so marine life can swim in at high tide. In 2008, a deer was spotted in the water, and it took rescuers several hours to sedate and remove the animal safely.
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