A popular cooling-off spot for Port Royal families is out of commission this week after a water line failure sent crews scrambling early Tuesday morning.
The splash pad at Bruce Edgerly Park shut down after town officials discovered water bubbling up through the concrete, according to the Town of Port Royal Fire Department.
The department responded to reports of the leak and moved quickly to cut off the water supply while assessing the extent of the damage.
Repairs Underway as Officials Urge Caution
Beaufort Jasper Water and Sewer Authority crews arrived on scene to assist with the investigation, and town workers have begun the process of repairing the broken line.
Officials have not yet said how long the repairs will take or what caused the break in the first place, though the timing has raised eyebrows among some residents already familiar with past construction work at the site.
In the meantime, the fire department is asking residents to steer clear of the splash pad area entirely. With water main work underway and the ground potentially unstable near the leak, officials say staying out of the fenced-off zone is a matter of basic safety until the site is fully repaired and reopened.
The park itself remains open, according to town updates, but the splash pad section will stay roped off until further notice.
Residents React Online
News of the closure spread quickly on social media, where the town’s Facebook post drew dozens of comments within hours. Some residents joked about contractor quality, while others used the moment to push for long-requested upgrades, including shade structures, seating, and a fence around the splash pad to separate younger children from older kids using the equipment.
A handful of commenters also asked whether the splash pad allows pets, a question that’s come up before but hasn’t been formally addressed by the town.
Others suggested Beaufort’s Southside Dog Park could use a splash feature of its own, unrelated to the current repair work but reflective of how much residents rely on public water features during the hot summer months.
For now, the Town of Port Royal says it will share updates as more information becomes available, and no reopening date has been set. Residents are encouraged to check the town’s official Facebook page for the latest on repair progress.
Bruce Edgerly Park has become a go-to summer destination for Port Royal families since the splash pad was installed, and the sudden closure comes during peak season, when temperatures in the Lowcountry regularly climb into the 90s.
Until repairs are finished, families looking to cool off will need to find alternatives elsewhere in Beaufort County.