Town Council

Nearly a decade after purchasing land, the Town of Hilton Head has formally approved plans to proceed with the mid-island tract project, which developers hope will offer a “best-in-class park” for island residents and tourists.

Bordered by William Hilton Parkway, Union Cemetery Road and Dillion Road, the 103-acre tract was formerly the Planters Row Golf Course. The town bought the property for $5 million in 2013 and hired consulting firm MKSK last year to draw up development plans.

Now that the initial plan has been approved, the town will work with MKSK to create a detailed design and set a budget for the project’s first phase of construction.

The park’s development is planned in five phases, according to the town’s master plan. Phase 1, meant to serve as the park’s “framework,” covers only a small portion of the land and includes mostly open outdoor areas, while later developments will expand the park to include indoor event spaces, recreational facilities and cultural landmarks.

No start or end dates have been projected for the park’s construction, according to Jennifer Ray, the town’s capital program manager. The project’s 2022 budget allocation has construction for Phase 1 slated for fiscal year 2023 and continuing into 2024 and beyond.

“We know it’s a multi-year project,” Ray said.

Mayor John McCann called the project a “visionary plan” that will transform the island’s center, according to previous reporting from The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette.