Sept. 1, 2021 • Volume 10, Issue 9 • Complimentary • HiltonHeadSun.com
PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID BLUFFTON, SC PERMIT NO. 135 POSTAL CUSTOMER
Upgrades at Chaplin, Crossings parks start with big wish lists By Tim Wood CONTRIBUTOR
Here’s the great news for Hilton Head Island residents looking for increased and continued attention to parks and recreation options: You’re getting your wish, to the tune of a likely $4 million commitment to improving two popular island parks. The tricky part? As staff and the development team behind those improvements have heard firsthand over the past couple weeks, there are a lot of stakeholders and a huge swath of opinions on what should be done to Crossings Park and Chaplin Community Park. “This is going to be a difficult balance to work all these elements in,” said Ward 6 Town Council member Glenn Stanford at an Aug. 23 Town Council workshop discussing the project. The projects calls for preparation of plans for “reimagining” Chaplin and redeveloping Crossings to make it the clear central hub for island baseball and softball activity for all ages. “These are two of our most-used recreational parks. The work we are planning for them are major capital projects that will invigorate the town’s parks and recreation system,” said Mayor John McCann of the project. Wood and Partners Inc., the firm behind the planning of the town’s recently opened
Local leader elected to state voters’ organization 12A
Lowcountry Celebration Park, has been brought on to lead the planning in design consultation with Design Workshop and architectural input from the Watson Tate Savory firm. Town staff and Wood and Partners have been gathering input through live polling and an online questionnaire which led to an Aug. 23 open house at the Chaplin Park pavilion off Castnet Drive and both a Town Council workshop on Aug. 23 and a Parks and Recreation Commission workshop on Aug. 24 to openly discuss plans for the project. Wood and Partners presented the scope of the plan for the 22.2 acres of usable space at Crossings and 57.5 acres of upland usable space at Chaplin. Their next step is to marry what projects can actually fit into the land with the top usage priorities for the parks. While the parks are not a complete blank slate, all parties are trying to maximize every inch of available space in the new plan. Many groups vying for proper representation at the parks have given input, including the Hilton Head Island Baseball Association, Hilton Head Island Pickleball Club and the Eco Heritage Advisory Commission. Community input for Crossings focused on adding two new 300-foot baseball fields; reinvigorating existing fields, the restroom and concessions building, and the plaza; expanding parking; and potentially developing new amenities, like an ADA-accessible
Book lovers chat, find new reads at Island Bookshelf 20A
COURTESY TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND
This graphic shows the locations of all the parks under the jurisdiction of the Town of Hilton Head Island.
playground; and improving pathways and irrigation at the park. Both council and parks and recreation members were largely on board with the basic concept of making Crossings the
Have some Fun in the Sun Sept. 11 at the beach 22A
premiere spot for baseball and softball. Their main questions had to do with just how far to go in attracting sports tourism to the park.
Please see PARKS on page 18A Saving sea turtles a way of life for some 24A
Sunny Side Up 3A • Editorial 4A • Sun on the Street 6A • Noteworthy 32A • Business 34A • Legal 40A • Health 43A • Wellness 46A • Giving 48A • Faith 49A • Nature 51A • Home 53A