Members of Beaufort City Council, city staff and community members gathered Wednesday morning for a ribbon-cutting and historic marker unveiling at Washington Street Park, which has been renovated with significant upgrades.
The park is equipped with a performance pavilion, a basketball half-court, a tennis practice court, a rain garden, new landscaping, benches, two murals, and a historic marker. The City has also installed restrooms and a new playground.
The historic park in the Northwest Quadrant neighborhood is operated through a lease agreement by the City of Beaufort and owned by the non-profit, Beaufort County Community Center.
The park’s history goes back to the 1940s when African American residents donated land for the development of the Beaufort County Negro Recreational Center. It was the only park in the City at the time for black families and children. The installed marker memorializes the cultural and historical significance of this public space, available for enjoyment by all.
“For years, we kept talking about wanting a historic marker so that our children would know something about the area,” said Edward Allen, a member of the Washington Street Park Committee who played in the park as a child. “It also brings back stories that we can tell our kids, why we have some of the value systems that we have and how it ties back into the community.”
The park committee was created in 2023 to help in the development of the master plan. Descendants of the original families who founded the park, Fred Washington, Jr., and the late Mary Thompson served on the committee alongside City Councilman Mitch Mitchell, City of Beaufort staff, and several neighborhood residents. Downtown Operations Director Linda Roper oversaw the project.
The focal point from the beginning was the new performance pavilion, which has a very simple and natural design, with wooden columns that hide electronics. Pavilion architect James Steverson said his mandate was to design a pavilion that would both “fit into this neighborhood” and accommodate performances.
Fred Washington added that they wanted a natural look. “We’re trying to incorporate some of the history that we brought to the Historic District,” he said.
The Washington Street Park Project was Budgeted at a total cost of $1,275.00. It was funded by an $80,000 Parks and Recreation Development (PARD) Grant, a $250,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the remainder from Parks and Tourism Revenue Bond Proceeds.
