Ellington Park celebrating grand opening today.

Ellington Park, a 20-acre public park in the BullStreet District named for a noted Columbia architect, is celebrating its official opening today.

The park, which includes running and walking paths, a dog park, shelters and a natural water habitat featuring a two-acre pond, is named for Page Ellington, a former enslaved man who became a self-taught architect and builder. He helped design buildings on the former S.C. State Hospital complex, assisting Dr. James Babcock, and also played a civic role, running for city council and serving as an election manager for Ward 4.

Ellington joined University of South Carolina professor Richard T. Greener as a member of the Columbia Board of Health in 1875. His home still stands in the Arsenal Hill community.

A grand opening for the park will take place at 5 p.m. today at 1640 Freed Drive. Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin...