Ruffner Park – Kanawha Garden Club

Ruffner Park began its life as the Ruffner family cemetery in the 19th century. Among the proponents of converting Ruffner Park to a city park was Louise Schoonmaker Chilton, one of the four founding members of Kanawha Garden Club (founded June, 1921). Kanawha Garden Club has been involved with Ruffner Park from the infancy of both the park and the Club. Minutes of early meetings reference the funding of purchase of trees and shrubs for the park. In more recent years, KGC provided tree identification plaques for the Park.

A geophysical survey conducted in 2022 revealed that numerous graves and headstones are buried beneath the Park due to its former life as a cemetery.  Several Kanawha Garden Club members serve on the Municipal Beautification Commission, which has responsibility for completing the plan in collaboration with the City of Charleston.  As of September, 2023, the project plan for Ruffner Park is complete and awaiting installation this fall. 

Kanawha Garden Club adopted the Ruffner Park renovation as its Centennial community project.  Club funds, along with funds contributed by an anonymous donor, will be dedicated to construction of a new stone park entryway designed by a local stonemason.