Beaufort has a $6 million plan for Southside Park. Here’s what it wants to build first
Improvements planned at Southside Park in Beaufort — including a new playground, pavilions, parking, half basketball court and other amenities — would cost an estimated $6 million.
Not all of the proposed amenities would be completed at once.
The playground, which would cost $1.6 million, and a new entrance nearby should be prioritized, City Council members said. The next step, City Manager Bill Prokop said, is putting out a request for proposals for engineering and playground design.
The city still needs to figure out how to pay for the improvements.
In January 2021, the City Council appointed a Southside Park Task Force to come up with park upgrades. In a survey conducted later as part of that group’s work, playground equipment topped the wish list of amenities Beaufort residents wanted to see added. In late January of this year, the City Council selected Woods + Partners to develop a master plan. Cost estimates were provided to the city last week.
The plan for the 34-acre park includes extensive regrading of a festival lawn that would be large enough to accommodate two pickup soccer games; a renovated dog park that would include new fencing, misting sprays, agility equipment and other features; a nine-hole disc golf course; a wetland habitat; additional restrooms, and new trails.
The $1.6 million playground, which would include swings and spinners and 41 additional parking spots, is the most expensive item on the list.
Here’s some of the proposed amenities and their cost:
▪ A multi-use festival lawn: $704,642.
▪ A open-air event pavilion with picnic tables and restrooms: $699,000. It would be located next to the festival lawn.
▪ Controlled vehicle entry to the park: $36,000. It would include a metal swing gate, entry sign, landscaping and entry columns.
▪ Renovated dog park: $624,700.
▪ Walkways connecting to the county-owned tennis courts and Waddell Road: $50,552.
▪ A wetland, including drainage: $673,866.
▪ A half-court basketball court: $56,894.
▪ A 9-hole disc golf course: $24,888.
This story was originally published May 14, 2022 at 11:25 AM.
