The City of Charleston will hold an official ribbon-cutting ceremony for Fort Pemberton Park on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 10:30 a.m.
The 8.7-acre waterfront park, located at 221 Yates Ave. in Riverland Terrace on James Island, sits along the Stono River and has a history spanning hundreds of years.
The park is already open to the public and features a fishing dock, kayak launch, walking paths and a picnic shelter. Separate ADA-accessible entrances provide access to both the historic upper fort area and the waterfront portion of the park.
The site was once home to Fort Pemberton, a Civil War-era earthwork fort built to protect Wappoo Creek. The property later became farmland before remaining in private ownership for decades.
The city has since transformed the property into a public waterfront park while preserving the site's history and providing the community with new recreational opportunities and access to the Stono River.