2025 highlights Town’s growth
The Town of Bluffton advanced a wide range of capital projects, policy initiatives and community programs in 2025, highlighting efforts to manage growth, protect natural resources and maintain quality of life for residents and businesses.
Among the year’s major public projects was the opening of the Town’s new Welcome Center in February. Located in the Squire Pope Carriage House at Wright Family Park, the facility has welcomed more than 16,000 visitors in less than a year.
The Town also opened the playground at New Riverside Barn Park. The park, Bluffton’s largest, is located near May River Road and Okatie Highway and features open green space, perimeter trails and a restored barn designed to host private and large-scale public events. In September, the Town began accepting reservations for 2026 events at the New Riverside Barn, with more than 50 bookings confirmed by December.
Infrastructure improvements continued with the final phases of the Historic District Sewer Project, extending public sewer access to approximately 15 parcels and decommissioning 11 septic tanks in Old Town Bluffton.
Work occurred along Lawrence, Green and Water streets and was funded through a mix of bonds, hospitality tax revenue, utility fees and a Clean Water Act Section 319 grant administered through the Environmental Protection Agency and the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services.Construction also began on the roughly $2 million Pritchard Street Streetscape and Drainage Project, which will add sidewalks, drainage improvements, ADA-compliant pedestrian features, traffic-calming measures and upgraded lighting.
In policy actions, Town Council approved a local ordinance in November adding safety requirements for golf carts and specialized vehicles following changes to state law earlier in the year. The ordinance, which took effect Jan. 1st, 2026, requires seat belts for all occupants, licensed drivers at least 16 years old, vehicle registration and insurance, and specific safety equipment.
Bluffton also adopted a wetlands protection ordinance in March, becoming the first municipality in South Carolina to establish clear local regulations that include a mandatory 50-foot undisturbed buffer around wetlands.
Economic development efforts were led by the Don Ryan Center for Innovation, which supported 26 companies in 2025 and provided educational programming to more than 1,000 residents, students and business leaders. A second DRCI facility, known as The Cove, is under construction in Buckwalter Place and is intended to serve as a “landing pad” for relocating and expanding businesses. The Town also awarded four economic development grants tied to $17.3 million in capital investment and the creation of 66 jobs.
Public safety initiatives included warnings about phishing scams impersonating Town emails and public notices following the discovery of invasive yellow-legged hornet nests in Bluffton.
The Town expanded community outreach through the publication of its first Resident Resource Guide and awarded four “Stay Safe, Bluffton!” scholarships promoting safe driving habits.
Historic preservation remained a focus, with Bluffton receiving a 2025 South Carolina Historic Preservation Service Award for the second consecutive year. The Town awarded more than $111,000 in preservation grants to five contributing properties in the Old Town Historic District and hosted its 10th annual Historic Preservation Symposium.
Community events throughout the year included the Independence Day Celebration, the Bluffton Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting, concert series, movie nights and river cleanup efforts. Town Council also inducted Queenie Gadson Jenkins into Bluffton’s Wall of Honor in April and marked Arbor Day with the planting of live oak trees at Oscar Frazier Park.
Bluffton closed the year maintaining its AAA bond rating from Moody’s Investors Service, continued recognition from the Government Finance Officers Association and a ranking among South Carolina’s safest cities, placing fifth in the SafeWise 2025 report.
