Fences and signs have gone up blocking access to the seawall, swings, and the daydock in Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. The fences run the full width of the park from the bridge to the marina. ‘No Trespassing’ signs are posted at regular intervals stating that the ‘area is closed for public safety’ and ‘violaters [sic] will be prosecuted’. This official announcement comes less than two weeks before the start of the Annual Water Festival, the park’s most anticipated and well-attended festival of the year.
The City of Beaufort has released multiple statements and social media posts about the closures and promised to keep the public informed. According to the engineering report that City officials received on June 27, 2025, it is only the brick promenade closest to the water that poses a public safety risk. This area of the park closest to the water is a relieving platform supported by concrete pilings that was built when the park was first constructed in 1974. The rest of the park including the green spaces, pavilions, and the playground are all constructed on backfilled land, and according to the engineers, do not pose a safety risk.
The structural report, completed by JMT Engineers in partnership with McSweeney Engineers, found:
- The concrete piles supporting the relieving platform are deteriorating due to nearly 50 years of exposure to marine conditions.
- Some piles are overstressed or broken, meaning the structure can no longer safely carry pedestrian loads without risk of further failure.
- The platform itself remains intact, but the supporting piles beneath it are failing, making closure necessary to ensure no risk to the public.
In June 2024, Beaufort Insider reported the findings of a structural inspection of the park that was presented to City Council and city officials: Beaufort’s Waterfront Park in Trouble: Structure Could Fail. At that time, council members and city officials expressed shock at the findings and the severity of the concerns. Since that time, the City ordered more detailed engineering studies and began exploring options for the future of the park including long-term budgeting options and creating the Waterfront Park Advisory Committee.
For the foreseeable future, visitors to downtown will have to enjoy the view of the water from farther away. City officials and organizers of the upcoming Water Festival (July 11-20) have stated they are putting public safety at the forefront of their decisions. According to the engineers:
- There are no structural dangers or risks to the public in any other areas of Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park that remain open.
- Water Festival events can safely proceed in the park’s open areas as planned.
The City of Beaufort is continuing to publish updates on its website and social media. The closure of a large section of the Waterfront Park will undoubtedly increase pressure on local officials to find a solution that will reopen the park as soon as possible.