Chambers Park in Beaufort Faces Hefty Repairs Costing Millions
In case you haven’t heard yet, Beaufort’s Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, the city’s lovely crown jewel, is coming up against some serious maintenance issues that could blow up its repair budget into the multi-millions. This handsome park was built in 1975, and it is now reaching the final years of its expected lifespan. But it turns out the issues are not with the park itself, or its pavilion which we all love to hang out under, but what’s actually under the park. Bet you didn’t see that coming!
Inspections Uncover Serious Problems
Recent inspections have dropped a bomb – they found out that the park and its seawall are perched on 570 pilings, the structures that keep things safe and dry from the water below. Diving inspections carried out in 2019 found out that 47 of these pilings have structural integrity issues, or you can say, they are “failing.” Basically, the concrete is deteriorating and the steel bars that hold the structure together are starting to oxidize or protrude. This means that parts of the 18-inch pilings that were once square are now circular and only 12 inches around.
It’s Not Getting Any Better
And the trouble doesn’t stop there. Shoaling, which is the accumulation of sediment that reduces water depth, is taking place underneath the park. “Because of the shoaling, we are now only able to inspect 227 of the 570 piles,” says Scott Marshall, Beaufort City Manager. He warns: “That’s a concern that I feel like we need to address. The shoaling is not going to get better. That’s going to continue over time. And so, I think we need a long-term solution.”
Long-term Solutions Sure Are Costly
One of the solutions that Marshall is looking at to repair the pilings under Chambers Park might cost as much as a whopping $100 million! While that’s more than double the city’s annual budget, the good news is that American Cruise Lines, the company that anchors its ships at this park, has said that it might chip in as they need a place to dock and drop off passengers.
After all, the Waterfront Park is a significant contributor to the local and state economy. “I think that there will be a lot of assistance with whatever the long-term solution might be for this park,” says Marshall confidently.
Wrapping Up
On the bright side, Beaufort city has been spending money on “fixing” things in Chambers Park, even shelling out more than $8 million for renovations in 2005. And who knows, with a little help from state and federal friends, this beloved park might just stay afloat. But for now, let’s sit back and enjoy the sunset over the Beaufort River, while they figure out the next move.
