Two Hilton Head parks reopen during coronavirus. Keep an eye out for gators if you go
Two beloved parks on Hilton Head Island are opening Thursday after being shut down for the coronavirus pandemic.
Jarvis Creek and Crossings Parks, both situated next to the Cross Island Parkway, are now open for recreational use.
But there are still some restrictions.
The parks’ picnic shelters, playgrounds and other recreational equipment remain closed and blocked off by orange fencing, according to an email from Town Manager Steve Riley.
Team sports, such as pickup soccer and baseball games, are still prohibited at Crossings Park.
Riley recommended that anyone using parks keep six feet away from others.
“It’s the distance of a surfboard, long yoga mat or adult bike,” Riley said in the email announcement.
He also recommended using parks by yourself or only with people you live with, and strongly encouraged park users to wear face coverings.
Alligator mating season on Hilton Head
As the two parks reopen, it’s important to remember humans aren’t the only ones using them.
Alligators are in the crescendo of mating season, where male gators travel between lagoons in search of a mate.
Hilton Head Island has made international news for alligator sightings in the last several weeks, and a 57-year-old woman on Kiawah Island died following an encounter with an alligator last weekend.
Alligators are frequently spotted sunning themselves at Jarvis Creek Park, which features a walking trail that circles a man-made lagoon. Warmer water and sunny days ahead mean alligators will be more active, S.C. Department of Natural Resources spokesperson David Lucas said.
As people come back to the parks for the first time in weeks, they may encounter alligators who are used to being left alone.
Here are some tips for avoiding confrontations with gators from SCDNR:
- Stay on the established trail, especially if you’re walking with pets.
- Do not ever, ever, ever feed an alligator: “If they begin to associate people with food, that is the worst possible scenario,” Lucas said.
- If you come across a gator in your path, immediately walk the other way. Avoid turning your back on the alligator.
- Practice even greater social distancing! Keep 50 feet between yourself and an alligator when walking, running or taking a photo of the animal.
Reopenings on Hilton Head Island
The park openings come as South Carolina and Hilton Head begin to ease coronavirus-related restrictions on public life.
Two beach access points on Hilton Head are also open for use by beach pass holders only.
Coligny and Islanders Beach Parks opened May 1 and were crowded on their first weekend open since March 13.
Meanwhile, restaurants in South Carolina have been allowed to resume outdoor dining.
While not all restaurants have reopened, a large contingency of Hilton Head eateries have used outdoor space to separate tables and resume some sort of service.
Most restaurants are still offering takeout and curbside service.
This story was originally published May 7, 2020 at 10:21 AM.
