New plans for Hilton Head park scrap pier at Shelter Cove. What will take its place?
A plan to build a pier that juts out into Broad Creek at Shelter Cove Community Park may be abandoned by the Town of Hilton Head Island.
In its place, staff have suggested a marshfront boardwalk that runs along Veteran’s Memorial Park, which would connect that park with two luxury apartment complexes, the Shelter Cove Community Park and the future Chaplin Linear Park across U.S. 278.
The preliminary plans were unanimously supported at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting.
Even without the pier, the project is likely to cost over $500,000, according to director of community development Shawn Colin.
“We want to provide as many water views and access points as possible,” Colin said.
Although Hilton Head is known for stunning sunset views, many prime viewing spots such as Harbour Town Marina or Point Comfort are accessible only to private property owners, by paying a fee or through area marinas.
The new Shelter Cove connection may help mitigate that, Colin said. Following Tuesday’s support, the project begins the public planning process and will be heard by planning commission..
Why no pier?
A large pier was originally planned for the Shelter Cove Community Park, according to town renderings. It would have extended out from the entrance to the park to Broad Creek.
However, town documents show that the town couldn’t get permits for the pier allowing it to be as long and as wide as it liked. The result would have been a pier just 163 feet long and between 10 and 12 feet wide.
Originally, the town wanted the pier to be between 500 and 800 feet long.
Colin said both town staff and the developer agreed to use the money in different ways.
The developer, Shelter Cove Towne Centre, LLC, had put $200,000 toward the pier project and the town contributed $300,000, Colin said.
When will the boardwalk open?
The project lacks a clear timeline.
While the boardwalk is the first phase of a larger project at the Chaplin linear park, the town council needs to approve funding and the plans.
The project’s funding may also be hindered by COVID-19 effects on the town’s revenue.
This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 1:40 PM.
