<strong>From staff reports</strong>

The new playground at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park is now open for kids and their parents.

A ribbon-cutting was held Friday, Aug. 28 to unveil the Beaufort-themed park, which includes a climbing structure styled like a shrimp boat with rope nets for climbing; an Arsenal-styled structure that connects to a 5-foot green mound; a spinner, and slides and swings.

“We’re thrilled with the design of our playground,” Director of Downtown Operations &amp; Community Services Linda Roper said in a release. “We think parents and kids will love it.”

Great Southern Recreation installed the playground at a cost of $274,654; it was funded by a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant and City resources. The new playground features safety surfaces, including artificial turf on the mound, rubber mats, and engineered wood mulch made for playgrounds.

The former playground was installed in 2006, and its aging equipment needed continuing repairs.