After outcry, SC Parks reconsiders closing Hunting Island boat ramp. Here’s the latest
Public outcry and pressure from local lawmakers has prompted the The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (SCPRT) to walk back a previous decision to permanently close a popular Hunting Island boat ramp — at least for now.
When South Carolina State Parks announced that Russ Point on Hunting Island would be permanently closed beginning April 1 due to deteriorating road surfaces resulting from erosion, many boaters pressed their elected officials to have the decision reviewed and reversed.
According to Chip Campsen, R-Charleston, whose district includes Hunting and Fripp islands, that’s exactly what is going to happen.
The public pushback and conversations Campsen said he had with SCPRT Director Duane Parrish led to a change of heart from SC State Parks, which is part of the agency, Campsen told the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet Wednesday morning. SC State Parks, Campsen says, now plans to study fixing the road and keeping the boat ramp open.
“You shouldn’t shut it down just because it floods at times,” Campsen said. “If you did that, half the Lowcountry would have to be shut down.”
Campsen said he spoke with Parrish several times about the issue.
“That’s the plan now is to repair it,” Campsen said. “That’s the decision that Duane Parrish relayed to me.”
The state has retained an engineer to study the erosion problem and recommend a solution, says Campsen, adding he has spoken to that engineer. A bulkhead likely will be needed to shore up the landing, Campsen said.
Sam Queen, a spokesperson for SC State Parks, said Russ Point Landing will still close on April 1 because the road leading to it is not safe. However, she acknowledged that a “temporarily” sticker will be placed over “permanent” on the closure sign that initially was posted in the ground at the intersection of Sea Island Parkway and Russ Point Boat Landing.
“We’re hopeful we will be able to come to some solution now that we have the attention and support at the state level that we need,” Queen said.
Queen stressed that a permanent solution to the erosion problem still is up in the air. If one is found, funding and permits still need to be secured, which will take time.
SCPRT has received approval from the state Department of Health and Environmental Control for a temporary fix of rip-rap and gravel, Queen said. But SCPRT applied for that permit, which still needs Army Corps of Engineer approval, months ago, before the sign went up announcing the closure of the boat ramp to the public, she said.
Russ Point is the only access to Fripp Island if something were to happen to the bridge, Campsen said. It’s also used by Beaufort Water Search and Rescue in addition to the public, he said.
“It’s really an important landing to keep and maintain,” Campsen said. The area’s legislative delegation, including Campsen, Sen. Tom Davis and Rep. Shannon Erickson, got involved after SC Parks put up the sign announcing it was closing the boat launch.
Beaufort County maintains 25 boat landings, in addition to 17 public-access points to water, bluffs and piers that don’t accommodate boats. Russ Point Landing was one of those public access points. However, in 2022 then County Administrator Eric Greenway sent a letter to the state saying the county was relinquishing maintenance responsibility of Russ Point to State Parks because the state, not the county, in fact was the owner.
This story was originally published March 27, 2024 at 12:36 PM.
