Page Ellington Park

Page Ellington Park is a 20-acre public park located in the BullStreet District of Columbia, South Carolina. The park, which opened in June 2021, is named after Page Ellington, a self-taught African American architect and builder who played a significant role in Columbia's history.

The park features a natural water habitat with a two-acre pond and the restored Smith Branch Creek. Approximately 2,600 linear feet of the creek have been daylighted or restored as part of the park's development. This restoration effort included the planting of over 3,500 live stakes - small branch cuttings that will grow into trees, plants, and shrubs - along the creek. Some of the native trees planted include American Sycamores, black willows, silky willows, and dogwoods.

The park's landscape includes nearly two dozen varieties of flowers and grasses. Around the main pond, four species of native plants have been introduced: Soft Rush, Northern Blue Flag, Pickerel Weed, and Alligator Flag. These plants create a natural barrier along the pond's edge.

Page Ellington Park has become a habitat for various wildlife, including red-winged blackbirds, great blue herons, orchard orioles, blue jays, yellow-throated warblers, frogs, and bullfrog tadpoles. This diversity of flora and fauna adds to the park's ecological value and provides visitors with opportunities for nature observation.

The park is managed by the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, which works to maintain the environment and ecological integrity of the space. It is located in downtown Columbia, between Colonial Drive and the Central Energy event venue.