Standing out as a punctuation point in the expanse of the North Charleston Riverfront Park is the new Boardwalk, recently completed by The Noisette Company under contract with the City. Although the Boardwalk’s 800 linear feet grabs the eye of every visitor to the park, a seemingly untold story lies in the eco-friendly innovations of the structure’s Breakwater System, just below the pedestrian venue.
“In simplest terms, the old seawall constructed during the days of the Naval Base was obsolete,” explains Art Titus, Director of Operations for The Noisette Company, LLC. “The structure had deteriorated and eroded over the past several decades. The solution was to create a new barrier, a Breakwater System, to help facilitate nature healing itself through natural processes along the shoreline.”
Titus added that the construction of the Breakwater used core stone recycled from the old seawall, and a new layer of larger, armor stone designed to stay in place as the tide ebbs and flows. “With the smaller stones, the tide is often strong enough to move it,” he adds. “With the larger, armor stones; it stays in place to protect the shoreline.”
This design produces areas in the Breakwater which are not solid, rock walls. At different points along the Breakwater, the openings allow the tide to flow in and out of the system. At high tide, the result is that pools accumulate behind the rock wall of the Breakwater.
The unique design of the Breakwater has its advantages, both for the environment, and park patrons who engage in recreational fishing on the Boardwalk. By nourishing the area between the Breakwater and riverbank with a tidal flow, vegetation serves as a natural edge to the park. In that area, Spartina grass grows, holding the Riverbank and marsh area in place.
“The concept and design is more of encouraging a natural, protected area, using nature’s solutions,” adds Titus. “The process, in turn, stabilizes the riverbank and marsh, allowing ecosystems and vegetation to survive.”
Since the Boardwalk is positioned at different points along the edge of the Breakwater, recreational fishing should benefit with schools of fish swimming closer to the shore.
“This amenity will be cherished by the citizens of North Charleston,” concludes Titus. “Everyone should visit the Boardwalk, and the magnitude of this new venue overlooking the Cooper River.”
