Gabriel Penfield, Irmo Town Council
In memory

Remembering Whitt Cline

For about 25 years, Whitt Cline cared for the trees, parks and public spaces that make Irmo feel like home. He led the Town’s Public Services team as director and arborist, planted roughly 2,000 trees, and helped build four of our parks. The park beside Town Hall now carries his name.

Share a memoryVisit Whitt Cline Community Park
Whitt Cline and Gabriel Penfield standing beside the Irmo Town Park sign, Home of the Okra Strut
~25years serving the Town of Irmo
~2,000trees planted
4parks he helped build
2009Irmo’s first Tree City USA year, kept every year since
His work

A town shaped by the trees he planted

Whitt started with a single planting along St. Andrews Road by the railroad tracks. Over the years his crew lined Woodrow Street with trees, turned plain spaces into gardens, and kept Irmo’s parks ready for everything from the Okra Strut to small weddings at the gazebo.

His leadership earned Irmo its first Tree City USA designation in 2009, an honor the Town has held every year since. He was involved with Trees SC, the statewide urban forestry nonprofit, for about 15 years.

The Town of Irmo Public Services crew with Gabriel Penfield at a park pavilionPhoto: Lola Dee Photography
2026

Honors

  1. March 24, 2026Irmo Town Council unanimously adopted Resolution 26-04, renaming Irmo Town Park as Whitt Cline Community Park.
  2. April 15, 2026The new sign went up at 7330 Carlisle Street, next to Town Hall.
  3. August 2026Trees SC presented him its 2026 Golden Acorn Award for sustained commitment to urban forestry, at the Fall South Carolina Urban Forestry Conference at Saluda Shoals Park.
  4. Fall 2026Town staff, council members and friends came together for his Celebration of Life.
In their words

What people said

“I consider myself a very lucky man tonight.”Whitt Cline, at the park renaming
“We’ve got a good thing going here in Irmo, and I expect it to keep going.”Whitt Cline
“Whitt’s dedication to the beautification of our Town is unmatched.”Jim Crosland, Town Administrator
“He was a magician in turning basic spaces into works of art.”Courtney Dennis, former Town Administrator
Share a memory

Tell us about Whitt

Memories come to me first. With your OK, I’ll add some to this page using your first name only.

Sources: Town of Irmo, park renaming announcement · Golden Acorn Award story.

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