As temps rise, kids cool down at this new Beaufort County water play area. It’s free
The opening of a new $390,000 splash pad, where kids can play and also stay cool in northern Beaufort County, has been perfectly timed with a sweltering Lowcountry heat wave.
The long-awaited splash pad, which is located at Beaufort County-run Bruce Edgerly Park at 719 16th St. in Port Royal, officially opened July 1 and is the result of a partnership between the town and the county.
Its hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
Splash pads, also known as spraygrounds, are water play areas with interactive water features or fountains for play. They usually have water spraying upward and involve no standing water.
In 2023, Beaufort County announced plans to add a 2,200-square-foot $655,000 plash pad at Oscar Frazier Park in Bluffton. The Port Royal splash pad, first discussed in 2024, is the first in northern Beaufort County.
The installation of the new Port Royal attraction follows $800,000 in new playground equipment Beaufort County installed at the park in 2023.
With prolonged steamy temperatures in mid- to upper-90s continuing to smother the Lowcountry this summer, the splash pad is proving to be an especially popular place.
On Friday in Beaufort and Port Royal, a high near 99 was forecast, with a heat index values as high as 110.
Even the members of the Port Royal Town Council wore shorts and flip-flops to join in the fun at the park’s unveiling, splashing through the water with the kids to test the town’s latest park amenity.
“So thankful Port Royal did this project and provided a fun (AND FREE) place for kids to play and cool down!” Briana Bell posted on Facebook.
The splash pad installation was $290,000 and the site work was $100,737.
The project’s financing included $290,000 in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, a stimulus bill passed in 2021 to speed recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the town paid for the work, Beaufort County will maintain the splash pad.
Beaufort County says the design of the park allows kids to have fun without the risks associated with pools or beaches. It is wheelchair accessible.
This story was originally published July 10, 2026 at 12:12 PM.
