Public access returns to popular Lady’s Island park with plum views of Beaufort River
Popular Whitehall Park on Lady’s Island — closed for eight months for improvements — was expected to reopen to pedestrian and bicycle traffic this week following more than $2 million worth of upgrades, including a new lighted causeway to the Beaufort River and a boardwalk offering direct pedestrian access from Sea Island Parkway.
The park at 120 Whitehall Drive with 200-year-old live oak trees offers wildlife viewing, especially multiple bird species, in addition to panoramic views of the Beaufort River marshlands, area bridges and downtown Beaufort. It had been closed for improvements since July 1.
One of the new features is a lighted and paved multiple-use pathway — it’s the old U.S. Highway 21 — that leads to the water’s edge. The 9.72-acre passive park will be open from dawn to dusk. But at night, those on foot or bicycle will be allowed access to the portion of the park with the causeway, which leads to a viewing platform on the edge of the marsh.
Another major change is a 280-foot-long, 10-foot-wide timber boardwalk that now connects the sidewalk parallel to Sea Island Parkway or Highway 21 to the multi-use pathway inside the park. The boardwalk had been completed for months, with passersby eager to try it out, but a board blocked access while the improvements inside the park continued.
“I think there’s going to be some pent up demand with folks wanting access,” Beaufort Mayor Stephen Murray said.
The park was expected to be open to foot traffic — but not vehicle traffic — by the end of Thursday, said Stefanie Nagid, Beaufort County’s manager of passive parks.
“We are super thrilled to be able to open the park back up and I really hope visitors enjoy the new amenities,” Nagid said.
Parking and a new pavilion with bathrooms were constructed as part of the $1.7 million project that also included installing new fencing, picnic tables, trash bins and pet waste stations. Beaufort County, which owns the park, took care of that work.
The city of Beaufort was responsible for the $500,000 boardwalk that now connects pedestrian traffic along Sea Island Parkway to the park.
In an agreement with the county, the city will handle maintenance of the entire park going forward. As with other city parks, Whitehall will be available to rent for events, said Linda Roper, the city’s director of Downtown Operations and Community Services.
The Beaufort County Open Land Trust will handle tree maintenance. The Friends of Whitehall Park, which formed to preserved the land, also will work with the city and county on volunteer activities and fundraisers.
Whitehall Park, Nagid said, has “full connectivity” now to Woods Memorial Bridge and residential and shopping areas.
A second phase is planned that includes the installation of a pier and a floating dock so people kayaking on the water can tie up and visit the park, Nagid said. The dock will be for non-motorized boats only. That work is planned in 2024.
People can use the park for all sorts of reasons, Nagid says. That includes bird watching. September’s Hurricane Ian destroyed a bald eagle nest but the young eagles still are in the area, Nagid says. Woodpeckers also nest in the trees in the park.
“It’s really a great opportunity for people to see some unique and interesting species up close,” she said.
People who dine in downtown Beaufort will be able to walk across the bridge in the evening to enjoy the view of Beaufort from the Lady’s Island side of the river, Nagid added.
Electricity and water and sewer still need to be connected and until they are the pavilion will not be open and the park will remain closed to vehicles.
On Thursday, city and county staff were expected to team up to set up picnic tables and benches and pull down the plywood blocking access to the boardwalk, Nagid said.
In 2018, Beaufort County bought the 9.72 acres from Whitehall Development, which had been planning high-density housing on 19 acres, for $5.45 million. The project had sparked opposition from residents and Whitehall Development later downgraded its size. The housing project, which is adjacent to the park, now includes 21 homes, eight townhouses and five mixed-used properties. About half of the lots have been sold and construction has begun on a few houses, said Michael Mark, a Realtor representing Whitehall Development.
This story was originally published March 2, 2023 at 12:31 PM.
