Bluffton opens New Riverside Barn; 37-acre park draws 70+ reservations and new amenities

Bluffton officials onstage at the New Riverside Barn on the town— s west side celebrated the facility— s opening, saying the 2,700-square-foot barn and the larger 37-acre New Riverside Park will add event space and recreation to a rapidly growing area.

Town Manager Steven Stice said the town purchased the land in 2018, used a public charrette to shape the design and opened the park— s recreational side in the fall. "It's officially open," Stice said at the ceremony, and the town opened the barn to reservations on Jan. 1. Stice said partnerships and funding from council and staff made the project possible.

Mayor Larry Toomer credited council and staff for moving the project forward, recalling preliminary development estimates as high as $15,000,000 and thanking the finance lead, Chris Forester, for locating funding. "We got it," Toomer said when discussing financing that allowed construction to proceed sooner rather than later.

Officials described the barn as a flexible venue for weddings, parties and community events with indoor and outdoor spaces, a music pavilion, dressing room and a full catering kitchen. The town said there were "over 70 reservations" already and that weekend bookings were filling quickly into 2027; resident and nonresident rental fees differ.

The project team the town named at the ceremony included the architectural Court Atkins group for building design, civil consultants listed as Thomas and Hunt (transcript reference), landscape master planning by Wooden Partners and construction by a local contractor identified as Nix/Nick's Construction. Town staff also acknowledged a long list of subcontractors and vendors who handled materials, flooring, plumbing, kitchen installation and A/V work.

Officials said this barn and the park are not the final phase: Stice said the town plans to expand trails, build an 18-hole frisbee-golf course (described as the town— s first) and complete a pavilion to support larger concerts and events. He also said the town is preparing a community charrette for park design on recently acquired land at Buck Island/Simmonsville near Bluffton Parkway.

Former Mayor Lisa Salka, who recalled efforts to acquire the land and work with private partners, said the project demonstrates how local planning and partnerships can preserve community space rather than allowing denser commercial development. Council member Fred Hamilton said the purchase prevented overdevelopment and returned value to taxpayers.

Council member Dan Wood called the park "our jewel," noting indoor capacity of about 200 people and signaling broader ambitions for connectivity, including bike paths and collaboration with area medical and university developments that could bring jobs as the region grows.

The event closed with a ceremonial ribbon cutting and an invitation for attendees to tour the facility; town staff remained available to answer questions and review reservation details.

Next steps: town staff will complete phase-two park work (trails, pavilion), begin construction of the frisbee-golf course and start community engagement for the Buck Island/Simmonsville park site. Rental and programming details are available through town offices.