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 lake and park were part of the Commons set aside for public use by an Act of the Commons House of Assembly in 1768. Plans for a pond and park existed by 1869, and the lake was created by 1873 when Lynch Street (now Ashley Avenue) was extended south to Broad Street, enclosing the site. Concrete walls and walks were installed in 1882, and the present configuration of a lake within concrete embankments with a promenade on all four sides was largely completed by 1885.

For years the lake was known as Rutledge Street Pond, and some residents still call it "The Pond"; the name Colonial Lake was adopted in 1881 after the Colonial Commons set aside in 1768. In 1910 the city began licensing boats to keep order on the water, and boat and "tub" races were staged there for local boys with prize money for the winners.

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.