09-04-2025
Beaufort to honor first Black Civil War soldiers with new park
BEAUFORT, S.C. (WSAV) — Beaufort officials are working on designs for a new park that will honor the first Black Civil War soldiers who once fought on the city's soil.
City officials called the location of the land, the 'gateway into the city.'
'You come in off of Trash Parkway on 21 and we hope that the park will be designed as such, that you cannot pass by without at least wondering what is that over there?' said City Manager, Scott Marshall.
Their plans are to turn it from sitting idle as a part of the open land trust, to The South Carolina Volunteers of African Descent Park.
'As a resident growing up here and having attended Robert Smalls High School, I did not know about the first South Carolina Volunteers,' said city councilman, Mitch Mitchell.
That's why they said they are working to designate signage around the grounds to hopefully educate locals, tourists, and students about the significance of the milestone.
'I can see a time when we'll have school busses on field trips coming here, studying in a very enjoyable way,' said Mitchell.
Marshall added on, 'If you stop here at the park, you won't be able to walk in the park and leave the park without knowing who the first South Carolina Volunteers of African descent were.'
Officials say Beaufort's history is what drives tourism. Tourism is their number one industry in the city. The park will be the first location to introduce the several other important sites in Beaufort.
'It's all about everyone leaning forward to tell this history that is very uniquely Beaufort history,' said Mitchell. 'But it's also South Carolina's history and U.S. history.'
Marshall said the city and the county are involved with the project. They have been in the process with stakeholders made up of citizens, academicians and other folks in government organizations, to come up with the features they want to be seen in the park.
As of now, they haven't confirmed funding for the project, or when it will break ground, but Marshall said they are excited when that time comes, to be able to keep Beaufort's history alive.
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