A new ‘pocket park’ is planned for Old Town Bluffton. Here’s what’s on the way
Bluffton residents and visitors may soon have a new spot to hang out, read a book or scarf down a quick meal.
A small park, called a “pocket park,” is planned in historic Old Town Bluffton, situated in front of the Stock Farm neighborhood along May River Road.
The idea for the park has been in place for four years. It came after Stock Farm developer Eugene Marks donated the land in 2017 as part of the town’s streetscape improvement project — which added sidewalks, parking, landscaping and lighting to May River Road.
Once completed, the miniature park will be one of two pocket parks in the town’s historic district. Another, called Pritchard Pocket Park, is down a dirt road off Bridge Street and offers a view of the May River.
Marks, reached by phone Monday, said the park will be a nice resting area “where you can reflect and appreciate your surroundings.”
He said he donated the property to the town after speaking with Bluffton officials about the need for more open space and sidewalks along May River Road.
“It just seemed to be the right thing to do at a time when the town was focused on saving space and making more parks,” he said. “All good towns have a lot of parks.”
As the project nears completion, Marks said he and his family are still deciding a name for the park.
Pocket parks, according to the National Recreation and Park Association, are small open spaces that provide a “safe and inviting environment” for the community. These parks are often created on vacant or unused lots and are intended to meet the needs of growing urban areas, the agency said.
Construction of the park, which will include seating areas, plants, lighting and sidewalks, is expected to start in late May or early June and finish near the end of July, according to town documents.
Planning and construction of the park is expected to cost $141,330, documents show. That will likely be paid with the town’s 2022 hospitality tax revenue.
Before construction can start, the plans will be reviewed by the town’s Historic Preservation Review Committee, according to Director of Growth Management Kevin Icard.
Want to take a look at the conceptual plans for the park? Click here. A summary of Bluffton’s capital projects, including the pocket park, can be found here.
This story was originally published December 21, 2021 at 4:50 AM.
