Azalea Park – Summerville, South Carolina

Azalea Park is a beautiful 16-acre park at South 5th Street in downtown Summerville. During the peak of the bloom, Azalea Park bursts with color from its hundreds of Azaleas planted by the Flowertown Garden Club. The park has sculptures, turtle and butterfly ponds, ornamental bridges, a tennis court, a gazebo, several picnic tables, and much more.

In the 1930s, a group of Summerville women who then called themselves the Civic League, raised money to purchase the land now used for Azalea Park. This group was the precursor to the Flowertown Garden Club, and the park was eventually deeded to the Town of Summerville.

Many plants were given to the park by resident George Segelken. Segelken even planted most of the azaleas himself and was an expert on the plant, and helped make Summerville well known for its beautiful Azalea bushes.

SCIWAY thanks Linda C. Shaw of Summerville for this information and picture taken in March 2012. Linda tells us that “whether you’re feeding the turtles, enjoying the shade of the tall LobLollies, or sharing the joy of a picnic with friends, you will be sure to enjoy yourself at Azalea Park!”