Open Land Trust of Beaufort County
905 Charles Street
Beaufort, South Carolina 29902
843-521-2175
Pat Conroy and Literature and the Low Country to Benet the Open Land Trust.
(l to r) Original Members Betty Waskiewicz, John Trask, Jr., and Marguerite Broz,
celebrating Open Land Trust’s 20th Birthday and First Conservation Easement.
Spring Island, South Carolina
The Blu Beaufort, South Carolina
Coosaw Cotton Field on St Helena Island
The Meeting of Marsh and Land in the Low Country
Design Workshop, Inc.
Landscape Architecture
Planning
Urban Design
Strategic Services
Environmental Graphic Design
22860 Two Rivers Road #1
Basalt, Colorado 81621
970.925.8354
designworkshop.com
February 12, 2024
Medal of Excellence Nominations
c/o Honors and Awards
636 Eye Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001-3736
Dear Honors and Awards Committee,
As South Carolina’s first land trust, the Open Land Trust of Beaufort County has
conserved a vast acreage in the Low Country, principally in the watershed of Port
Royal Sound, one of the richest ecosystems in America. Since its founding in
1971, the Open Land Trust has protected 32,278 acres of land and 175
properties in seven counties through land acquisition and the use of conservation
easements.
Protecting first the Bluff in Beaufort, South Carolina, the OLT demonstrated the
value of conservation efforts in protecting scenic views. The protection of the
Bellamy Curve property followed, and the organization was on its way. From this
initial concern of protecting viewsheds, the Open Land Trust’s mission has grown
to address significant ecological and cultural places that define the natural
landscape while contributing to the health and spirit of the extraordinary Low
Country region. This includes lands critical to water quality and fish and wildlife
habitat conservation, as well as agricultural lands, cultural landscapes, canopied
roadways, and the rural character of communities. Today it stands at the forefront
of the challenge of addressing the impacts of marsh migration and sea level rise
due to climate change.
The Open Land Trust also addresses issues of equity by collaborating with local
communities, residents of which are descendants of Freedmen to protect their
cultural landscapes and agricultural lands essential to their livelihoods and
heritage. Their efforts with the Gullah population and heirs property of St. Helena
Island are but one example of this work.
Begun as a grass roots organization, the Open Land Trust raised money a variety
of creative ways including tours of historic homes and an annual luncheon
featuring “hot chicken salad” from the organization’s Sea Island Seasons, a
cookbook now in its seventh edition which has sold 75,000 copies benefiting the
work of the OLT!
Today the Open Land Trust partners with the South Carolina Land Trust Network
and ACE Basin working group to spread its influence and knowledge to a broader
audience and region. As manager of Beaufort County’s bond program for land
conservation, the Open Land Trust was a key sponsor and collaborator in
development of the Beaufort County Open Land Plan which won an ASLA Honor
Award in Analysis and Planning in 2022.
Design Workshop, Inc.
2
With 11,000 acres of land in the pipeline for protection, the impact of work of the
Open Land Trust will benefit generations of not only South Carolinians but all
Americans for generations to come. For fifty-three years of tireless land protection
efforts in the Low Country of South Carolina I heartily nominate the Open Land
Trust of Beaufort, South Carolina for the ASLA Medal of Excellence.
Thank you for your consideration,
Kurt Culbertson
Principal/Chair Emeritus
Design Workshop
February 12, 2024
Medal of Excellence Nominations
c/o Honors and Awards
636 Eye Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001-3736
Dear Honors and Awards Committee,
Following graduate school at the University of Virginia in 1969, I began my career with the Sea
Pines company on Hilton Head Island in Beaufort County, South Carolina. My mentor, Charles
Fraser, hired Hideo -Sasaki of Boston to prepare the master plan for the new Harbour Town
community he envisioned. From that experience, I learned the importance of landscape
architecture and of sensitive integrating new development with the natural environment. These
lessons---and my involvement with the Trust for Public Land and the Urban Land Institute---
translated to the plan for my own project Spring Island, a conservation-based community.
Spring Island was developed in collaboration with Robert Marvin, recipient of the ASLA Medal.
In the fifty-five years, since I began working on Hilton Head I have seen the phenomenal growth
in the Low Country of South Carolina. This growth has brought new jobs and prosperity to our
region but also threatens the scenic and historic character of Beaufort County and
environmental quality of our treasured Port Royal Sound. In parallel with the development of the
region, I have been fortunate to follow and support the work of the Beaufort County Open Lands
Trust. As the first land trust in our state, the OLT is a pioneering organization and the inspiration
for similar organizations around South Carolina and the coastal South.
Protecting first the Bluff in Beaufort, South Carolina, the OLT demonstrated the value of
conservation efforts in protecting scenic views. The protection of the Bellamy Curve property
followed, and the organization was on its way. From this initial concern of protecting viewsheds,
the Open Land Trust’s mission has grown to address significant ecological and cultural places
that define the natural landscape while contributing to the health and spirit of the extraordinary
Low Country region. This includes lands critical to water quality and fish and wildlife habitat
conservation, as well as agricultural lands, cultural landscapes, canopied roadways, and the
rural character of communities. Today it stands at the forefront of the challenge of addressing
the impacts of marsh migration and sea level rise due to climate change.
The Open Land Trust also addresses issues of equity by collaborating with local communities,
residents of which are descendants of Freedmen to protect their cultural landscapes and
agricultural lands essential to their livelihoods and heritage. Their efforts with the Gullah
population and heirs property of St. Helena Island are but one example of this work.
Begun as a grass roots organization, the Open Land Trust raised money a variety of creative
ways including tours of historic homes and an annual luncheon featuring “hot chicken salad”
from the organization’s Sea Island Seasons, a cookbook now in its seventh edition which has
sold 75,000 copies benefiting the work of the OLT!
Today the Open Land Trust partners with the South Carolina Land Trust Network and ACE
Basin working group to spread its influence and knowledge to a broader audience and region.
As manager of Beaufort County’s bond program for land conservation, the Open Land Trust was
a key sponsor and collaborator in development of the Beaufort County Open Land Plan which
won an ASLA Honor Award in Analysis and Planning in 2022.
With 11,000 acres of land in the pipeline for protection, the impact of work of the Open Land
Trust will benefit generations of not only South Carolinians but all Americans for generations to
come. For fifty-three years of tireless land protection efforts in the Low Country of South
Carolina I heartily nominate the Open Land Trust of Beaufort, South Carolina for the ASLA
Medal of Excellence.
Thank you for your consideration,
James Chaffin
Principal, Chaffin/Light Associates
Honorary ASLA
February 14, 2024
Medal of Excellence Nominations
c/o Honors and Awards
636 Eye Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001-3736
Dear Honors and Awards Committee,
I am writing in support of the Beaufort County Open Land Trust (OLT) to be a recipient of the ASLA
Medal of Excellence. The OLT is South Carolina’s first and oldest land trust and has conserved a
vast acreage in the lowcountry, principally in the watershed of Port Royal Sound, one of the richest
ecosystems in America. The OLT was founded in 1971 and joined the Land Trust Alliance in 1990.
Over the course of its history, so far, it has protected over 30,000 acres of land through either land
acquisition or easements. They do this incredible work with only four full-time employees and a
board of twelve involved citizens.
I live in Charleston, SC, less than 70 miles from Beaufort, SC. Both are part of what is known as the
“lowcountry.” This is an area typified by black water rivers, coastal plains, sand dunes, expansive
salt marshes, forested wetlands, and vast forests of longleaf, loblolly, and slash pine, live oak,
cabbage palmetto, southern red cedar, and magnolia. It is a beautiful area, but it is also
threatened by insensitive and rapid growth and development and the effects of climate change.
Preserving large tracts of natural areas is important to serve as buffers and “sponges” in the region,
and of course for their natural beauty.
Beaufort County Open Land Trust (OLT) is an accredited land trust, which is a huge commitment
and a significant effort. Accreditation means Beaufort County Open Land Trust meets national
quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Beaufort
County Open Land Trust has demonstrated to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission its
commitment to excellence.
I am a former Board Member of the East Cooper Land Trust (ECLT is now part of the Lowcountry
Land Trust), as well as former member of their Advisory Committee and Chair of their Land
Protection Committee. I was also active with the Land Trust Alliance. While I was a board member,
ECLT went through the accreditation process for the first time, and I saw first-hand the commitment
this entails.
OLT is an important resource in the lowcountry, and they have served as an example to the other
ten land trusts in South Carolina. OLT has led the way! They are very deserving of this honor from
ASLA.
Thank you for your consideration,
William T. Eubanks, FASLA, PLA, LEED AP
Director, Planning + Landscape Architecture
February 15, 2024
Medal of Excellence Nominations
c/o Honors and Awards
636 Eye Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001-3736
Dear Honors and Awards Committee,
As a longtime resident and practicing Landscape Architect and Land Planner in the
Lowcountry of South Carolina, I am writing to support the nomination of the
Beaufort County Open Land Trust (OLT) for ASLA’s Medal of Excellence. This
incredible organization recently celebrated it 50
th
anniversary and boasts an
exceptional portfolio of tracts that accentuate the region’s cultural heritage, historical
significance, and ecological magnitude.
OLT “conserves many types of lands including iconic vistas providing windows to
the rivers and marsh; parks and greenspace that form the foundation of community;
working farms that define the regions rural and cultural heritage; and large properties
that play host to exceptional hunting or timbering operations. The Land Trust
recognizes that land speaks to us in different ways, and tailors’ conservation efforts to
honor the resources and the landowner’s vision”.
As a former Board Member of the Beaufort County Rural and Critical Land
Preservation Program, I can personally attest to the value, significance, and positive
impacts the OLT has had on land preservation across the Lowcountry and the region.
We are blessed to have this incredible organization in place and see the many benefits
from the good work done by this organization. The Open Land Trust is very
deserving of this recognition and award through ASLA.
Thank you,
Mark L Baker, PLA, ASLA
President
Wood+Partners
(l to r) The Open Land Trust Team: Kristin Williams, Executive Director; Ashley Rhodes, Director of Develop-
ment; Caylor Romines, Director of Stewardship; Kate Shaefer, Director of Land Protection; Haley Romeo, Out-
reach and Administrative Coordinator.
Beaufort County Open Land Trust Conservation Easement Landowner Handbook
Environmental Education Eorts Why Land Protection Matters to the Beaufort Region