Will Hilton Head build new pickleball courts in 2026? What to know from $174m budget
In the next 12 months, taxpayer dollars on Hilton Head Island will be used to add sand to its beaches, build new parks, and pay new town employees.
That’s according to a proposed budget discussed at a town council meeting Tuesday, which outlines how the town’s $174.7 million budget will be divvied up over the next fiscal year, which runs from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
Three new public parks are expected to break ground within the next year, including one half the size of a football field. Meanwhile, residents will have to wait a bit longer to play pickleball at Crossings Park — 18 new courts proposed for the public park won’t be built in the next 12 months.
What’s coming to Hilton Head in the next year?
Here’s what residents can expect in the coming fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30:
- Beach Renourishment: Hilton Head’s scenic beaches are slated to get a facelift this summer, a project that will cost a total of $47.5 million. Exactly how that project will be funded is yet to be finalized — the town council will discuss going into debt to fund the vital project in June. Bids from prospective companies are in, according to Town Manager Marc Orlando.
- Property tax rates: The town proposed once again reducing millage rates, which determine the rate at which property gets taxed. The aim is to reduce the impact of property value increases on homeowners. For a $1 million home on Hilton Head Island, the reduced rate of 19.4 mills would save a homeowner $80 per year than if the current rate of 21.4 mills was carried forward. According to Redfin, the average home price on Hilton Head increased by 2.7% over the past year.
- Mitchelville Road: The paving of a portion of Mitchelville Road is expected to start this fiscal year.
- New six-figure positions: The town wants to create two new full time positions: one to oversee pesticide use at $113k/year and one to manage its parking program at $108k/year. The town’s new beach parking program is expected to bring in $650,000 this coming year.
- ‘Pocket Park’: A miniscule, 0.5-acre ‘pocket park’ situated against the large roundabout near Coligny Beach in expected to break ground this fiscal year, with $900,000 allocated in the proposed budget.
- Historic community parks: Two other public parks are expected to break ground this year: Taylor Family Park, located in the Squire Pope Historic Gullah Neighborhood, and Patterson Family Park, located in the Marshland Historic Gullah Neighborhood.
Some projects are moving forward, but won’t break ground this year:
Crossings Park improvements: Designs and permits for 18 new pickleball courts and two new baseball fields coming to Crossings Park are scheduled to move forward, but construction won’t start on the new improvements this year.
Pathways: Residents will have to wait a bit longer for the new pathway segments on Jonesville Road, Dunnagan’s Alley, and William Hilton Parkway.
Facts about Hilton Head Island
With new houses getting built each year, Hilton Head Island is constantly growing. Here’s a snapshot of 2024 in numbers:
- Hilton Head’s population is now estimated to be 37,661.
- 160 new businesses opened on Hilton Head Island in 2024.
- The median age of a resident on Hilton Head Island is 58 years old. The median household income was $96,000 as of 2023, according to census data.
- The median price of a detached home on Hilton Head in 2024 was $1.2 million.
- There are 7,158 approved short-term rentals on the island.
How many Hilton Head residents complained in 2024?
Unsurprisingly, Hilton Head received a number of complaints from residents and responded to thousands of beach violations in 2024. Here’s how many, according to Orlando’s presentation:
- MyHHI app: Residents reported 1,940 issues in 2024 via the MyHHI app, which was rolled out in 2022.
- Short-term rentals: The town received 365 short-term-rental complaints in 2024, while approving 7,158 short term rental permits.
- Beaches: The town addressed 21,712 beach patrol violations in 2024.
- Fire Rescue: The town’s Fire Rescue Department responded to 10,015 emergencies in 2024.
