All public parks in Bluffton will close effective at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Town Manager Marc Orlando announced the closure on Tuesday evening just hours after South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster ordered all non-essential businesses to close.
Orlando’s closure applies to all public parks owned by the town. In accordance with McMaster’s order closing all public waterway access points, all public boat ramps, landings and affiliated parking lots are also closed.
In a Wednesday news release, the town said all parks were closed “to promote a culture of infection control.”
Bluffton Police Department officers will patrol public parks, docks and boat landings to educate residents and guests about the closures, the news release said.
On Tuesday night, Bluffton Police Department Chief Chris Chapmond said his officers are following a “common sense approach” when it comes to enforcement, but will issue tickets if the orders are not followed.
The closure includes:
▪ DuBois Park
▪ Oyster Factory Park
▪ Oscar Frazier Park pavilion, restrooms and playground
▪ Dog Park at Oscar Frazier Park
▪ Martin Family Park
▪ All pocket parks, to include Pritchard Pocket Park and Tom Herbkersman Commons
▪ New Riverside Trail
After the Town of Bluffton closed all parks, playgrounds, lots and public docks and landings at 7 a.m. due to S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster’s executive order to stem the spread of the coronavirus, people gather in Dubois Park in Old Town Bluffton for lunch on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. When casually asked if the town closed the park, an individual responded, “There are no signs.” and then finished by saying “The police just drove by and didn’t say anything.” Drew Martin dmartin@islandpacket.com
Public beaches, boat landings and docks
In accordance with Monday’s executive order closing all public access to waterways in the state, the following locations are also closed in Beaufort County:
BOAT RAMPS AND LANDINGS
▪ Alljoy Boat Landing
▪ Bluffton Oyster Factory Park
▪ Brickyard Creek Boat Landing
▪ Broad River Boat Landing
▪ Buckingham Boat Landing
▪ Buddy and Zoo Boat Landing
▪ Butcher’s Island Boat Landing
▪ C.C. Haigh, Jr. Boat Landing
▪ Cross Island Boat Landing
▪ Daufuskie Island Boat Landing
▪ Eddings Point Boat Landing
▪ Edgar Glenn Boat Landing
▪ Grays Hill Boat Landing
▪ H.E. Trask Sr. Boat Landing
▪ Marshland Boat Landing
▪ Paige Point Boat Landing
▪ Parris Island Boat Landing
▪ Port Royal Boat Landing (The Sands)
▪ Russ Point Boat Landing
▪ Sams Point Boat Landing
▪ Steel Bridge Boat Landing
▪ Sugar Hill Boat Landing
▪ Wallace Boat Landing
▪ White Hall Boat Landing
▪ Wimbee Boat Landing
PUBLIC BEACH AND WATERWAY ACCESS
▪ Alljoy Beach
▪ Bermuda Bluff
▪ Bloody Point
▪ Coosaw Island
▪ Lands End Overlooks
▪ New Daufuskie Beach Access
▪ Old Daufuskie Beach Access
▪ Pappy’s Landing
▪ The Sands
PIERS AND DOCKS
▪ Calhoun Street Public Dock
▪ Broad River Fishing Pier
▪ Camp St. Mary’s Fishing Pier
▪ C.C. Haigh, Jr. Landing Fixed Pier
▪ Daufuskie Landing Fixed Pier
▪ Factory Creek Fishing Pier
▪ Jenkins Island Pier
▪ Old House Creek Pier
▪ Whale Branch Fishing Pier
▪ Wimbee Creek Fishing Pier
This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 12:04 PM.
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A reporter for The Island Packet covering projects and investigations, Kacen Bayless is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from the University of Missouri with an emphasis in investigative reporting. In the past, he’s worked for St. Louis Magazine, the Columbia Missourian, KBIA and the Columbia Business Times. His work has garnered Missouri and South Carolina Press Association awards for investigative, enterprise, in-depth, health, growth and government reporting. He was awarded South Carolina’s top honor for assertive journalism in 2020.
