New park coming to ‘gorgeous’ Port Royal land and an iconic witch sculpture may return
New houses were once planned on a few acres on the edge of Port Royal’s prized salt marsh. But now a new use is taking shape that will preserve the land for the public’s enjoyment for years to come.
That new use is a park.
It’s not a large green space, around 2 to 3 acres. But its enviable location at the intersection of the Beaufort River and Battery Creek gives it out-sized importance because of the sensitive environment and expansive views.
Town officials considered the land so important that they interviewed residents before appointing them to a special park task force to iron out the details and the vision. Meetings are ongoing at this point but committee members seem certain about the big picture: The park will blend in with its stunning environmental surroundings but also stand out in other ways, including the art work, which may include the return of the town’s famous witch sculpture that was relegated to obscurity almost 4 years ago.
Here’s 10 things to know about the park that will be located along the same road leading to the popular Sands Beach area:
1. Location, location, location
The sliver of land is sandwiched between the marsh and Sands Beach Road shared by cars, golf carts and pedestrians making their way to Sands Beach, the boat landing and the Henry Robinson Boardwalk.
“It’s gorgeous,” says Tricia Fidrych, a Port Royal resident who is serving on the committee studying how the park should be developed.
Town Manager Van Willis says the land provides 270-degree views of the Beaufort River and Battery Creek.
The park will begin at London Avenue and follow the north side of Sands Beach Road east and then south, toward the beach.
2. Land swap saved property
The 2 to 3 acre-park is part of 4.6 acres of land the town received in 2023 as part of a land swap with Safe Harbor Marinas, which is redeveloping the Port of Port Royal waterfront. Grey Ghost Properties, which sold the land to Safe Harbor, originally planned to build houses on the park site. “Most of the townspeople said, ‘You can’t,” said Barbara Berry, who is heading up the park task force.
Willis said the town always envisioned a land swap to preserve the property.
3. What will the park features be?
First and foremost, say Fidrych and Berry, the park will be “very passive” with limited development.
Residents want its features to “blend into the marsh,” Fidrych says.
Some of the features under discussion are: A split-rail fence along the park’s edge; additional parking spaces along Sands Beach Road; two overlooks with viewing scopes that jut into the marsh giving visitors better views of the area; a pavilion; a trail that winds through the length of the park; and benches and picnic tables.
4. Residents want art in the park
The park will be an original, just like the town, where the motto is “cool, coastal and far from ordinary,” says Berry. Residents, she adds, doesn’t want a see “cookie cutter” park.
“We just want the park to be a little different,” Berry says.
Toward that end, Berry supports moving a few pieces of the town’s unusual artwork to the new park including the “The Hag.”
The Hag, of course, is a 12-foot-tall iron sculpture of a woman with hair made of old tires holding a shield who has been called the Nightmare Witch, Zephyr or Heisman Medusa (for her pose similar to college football’s famous trophy). For years the quirky figure graced the entrance to the town’s downtown entrance at Ribaut Road and Paris Avenue. But in 2021, the town decided to remove The Hag and she’s been sitting at the public works facility ever since.
Will she make a comeback in the park?
“If she can be cleaned up,” says Berry,” “she’s free.”
Another piece of unusual art that Berry says might be another park candidate is a large concrete fish that appears to be moving through the grasses or weeds. It’s currently located behind town hall.
5. Sands Beach projects ‘coming together’
The park project is just one of three major projects planned in the Sands Beach area.
Improvements already are underway at the Henry Robinson Boardwalk, which was damaged by Tropical Storm Helene. The town also is planning to build an access bridge to Sands Beach because of the rising tides that can trap visitors and create large holes that are difficult to navigate. And now the park.
“It’s all kind of coming together now,” says Willis, “so it’s pretty exciting.”
Fidrych sees the park as a gateway to the Sands Beach area. “It’s a beautiful piece of land to enter into this fabulous beach and fabulous boardwalk,” she says.
6. Residents can name the park
The Sands Beach Park Task Force is seeking the public’s input to help name the proposed new Sands Beach park. Residents are invited to email creative suggestions lgraham@portroyal.org. The deadline for submissions is Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.
7. Are any names on the table?
One possible name that’s been floated is “Reveille.” The morning bugle call at U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island can be heard at Sands Beach.
8. Has work started?
No but the committee made up of residents has been appointed and meetings have started in which ideas are being discussed. The town hired a land planning and landscape architecture firm to come up with a preliminary sketch.
9. When will the project begin?
Willis says he’s not sure. The project will be discussed by the Town Council when it takes up the budget for the next fiscal year.
10. How much will it cost?
The town recently approved $11,500 for Sea Island Tree Care to clean up the trees and brush on the site and that work began earlier this week. But the town’s financial commitment for the entire project won’t be known until final design is approved, Willis said. The committee will make a recommendation on what those improvements should be but the Town Council will make the final decision.
This story was originally published January 30, 2025 at 3:52 PM.
