BONNEAU BEACH, S.C. — A playground that generations of Bonneau Beach families grew up on is now closed, and community leaders say bringing it back will take a major push from the public.
The decades-old playground, first installed in the late 1970s, officially closed this month after its aging equipment was deemed no longer safe for use.
📣 STAY IN THE LOOP 📣
📰 Sign Up for Berkeley County, SC Newsletter ⬅️
“We had some equipment that was getting to be very, very unsafe,” Holly Simpson, president of the Bonneau Beach Civic Club, announced in a recent Facebook post. “One of our pieces actually broke, and because of that, the playground is officially closed down.”
Over time, key features have been removed, including the longtime favorite merry-go-round.
From memories to a mission
For years, the playground served as a central gathering spot for families in this small lakeside community. Now, leaders say it’s time to build something new — one that can last another generation.
“This playground has seen some great days,” Simpson said. “But it’s time to invest in something for the next 50 years.”
The civic club has launched a campaign to build a brand-new, modern playground with a price tag of about $150,000. And while the goal is steep, organizers say momentum is already building.
More than halfway to the goal
As of this week, more than $63,000 has been raised toward the project.
That total includes $50,000 secured through Berkeley County and a $10,000 pledge from the Bonneau Beach Civic Club, early funding that helped jumpstart the effort.
Still, more than half of the total cost will need to come from residents, donors, and community supporters.
“This is a big goal,” Simpson and other civic club board members stressed. “But it’s also a big opportunity. The children who will play here in the coming years deserve a safe, updated space designed for today’s standards. We know this community has the heart to make it happen.”
‘What has the community done?’
Simpson says she’s been reaching out to corporate sponsors, but many are waiting to see local buy-in first.
“What I am hearing from all these corporations that are responding to my messages, they’re asking, ‘What has the community done?'”
That question is now fueling a renewed push for grassroots donations, with leaders emphasizing that every contribution — no matter the size — helps move the project forward.
“It doesn’t have to be a large amount,” Simpson said. “Every little bit is going to help.”
Donations are currently being accepted through cash, check payable to Bonneau Beach Outreach, and Zelle, with additional options like Venmo in the works. To inquire about donating, send an email to: [email protected].
A race against time
Organizers say they’re hoping to have the new playground ready as early as this summer — an ambitious timeline that depends heavily on fundraising success in the coming months.
“I know this sounds like a very lofty goal,” Simpson said. “But we would really love to have this playground in place for your kids and your grandkids.”
For Simpson, the project is personal.
“I know my girls may not swing here again,” she said. “But I’m hoping one day they come back and my grandkids play here.”
With a newly energized board and growing community support, leaders say they’re determined to bring life back to a space that has meant so much for so long.
“We are a small but very mighty board, and we want to make this community great, and we really want to see the life brought back into the playground, and we know that we cannot do it without your help,” she said.
