"Gateway to Bluffton - a passive use park for gathering and celebrating the Lowcountry"
Bluffton is going to have a new park located near the intersection of May River Road and Okatie Highway and will serve as Bluffton’s Welcome Center for travelers coming into Bluffton from the Savannah, GA, area!
This park, which will be the Town’s first park in the New Riverside section of Bluffton, is 37-acres and is located at the intersection of Highways 46 & 170. The park will feature large open spaces, perimeter trails, a large playground for diverse ages, as well as the 2,700 square-foot iconic barn. This passive park and its barn have the potential to host private and large-scale public events, an extensive event rental space, public trails, playground, picnic shelters, restrooms, and an area for Food Trucks.
notes below updated as 02.27.24...
The second phase of construction for the New Riverside Barn Park has begun! One of the main features of this construction phase is to renovate and expand the existing barn and convert it into an event venue and public gathering space. This phase will also feature construction of restroom buildings, a destination playground including shelters and the landscaping, signage, outdoor site furnishing and lighting to accompany this construction. Construction is scheduled to begin in early January. The playground, trails, restroom, and common area improvements are expected to be open by the end of 2024, and the barn is anticipated by the end of 2025.
Original Post & BACKGROUND Fall 2019 - New Riverside Barn Project – A capital project paid for by the Town of Bluffton, that will be phase developed over 5 years to be a centerpiece of many activities
37 acre property: Purchased by the Town of Bluffton for $200,000 in 2019 and will be a passive use park with walking trails, an amphitheater with grass landings/gathering space, walking trails, playgrounds etc.
The Barn: Originally built in 2005 by the owners of Palmetto Bluff as a an "identifying marker for the area" - essentially a marketing tool to catch the eye as folks came into town. This building will be expanded and converted into event space that will be rentable for weddings/parties/rehearsal dinners. It will get a new porch & terrace, a garden entrance, restrooms, warming kitchen and service area for deliveries.
First Phases 1-2 years: Will be water & sewer improvements, then parking and trails in which we’ll see by 2022.
Second Phase 3-5 years: The barn expansion and event space will be phased over the next 3 to 5 years. Since this is a capital project, it's difficult for the Town to put millions of dollars into the project at one time.