Parking Changes Coming to Hilton Head Island’s Beach Parks
Hilton Head Island, the lovely and sunny getaway, is gearing up for some changes that might affect many beachgoers. Starting in March next year, visitors from outside the town will need to dig a little deeper into their pockets to park at the various beach parks across the island. Yes, before you lay out your beach towels or set up those comfy chairs, you’ll be looking at a parking fee of $3 per hour at all town beach parks, except for the always-popular Coligny Beach Park, which will be free for now.
Decision Details
This new parking situation didn’t come out of nowhere; the Town Council made their decision after a good amount of discussion and debate. In mid-September, the council voted 5-2 on a resolution that finalized this parking fee structure, and they followed up with a unanimous vote on the ordinance during two separate meetings, one in September and then again on October 1. While this was a significant step, the conversation about what to do about parking specifically at Coligny Beach Park is far from over.
New Group to Study Coligny Beach Parking
During a recent council meeting held on Tuesday, council members decided to create an ad hoc group tasked with looking into the parking situation near Coligny Beach. This group will include representatives from the town, the Ward 3 council representative, and local business owners. Their job will be to study the area and gather input from both residents and businesses, aiming to understand everyone’s needs better. This group is expected to be up and running by November 30 and aims to provide a report to the council by September 30, 2025. This helps ensure they’ll have a good amount of data—about seven months of peak season parking data—to work with, which will show how many vehicles come in and out of Coligny Beach Park.
Understanding Different Perspectives
The mayor pro-tem, who made the motion for this new group, emphasized that aligning the goals of the town with those of local businesses and residents hasn’t been easy. This has been a topic on the council’s agenda for years, but they’ve struggled to find a common ground. “We have tried a number of ways of moving that ball forward, but unsuccessfully,” he mentioned. The hope is that the newly formed group will help communicate the concerns and needs of everyone involved, eventually paving the way for a more unified approach to handling parking in the area.
Beach Park Updates
As part of the approved resolution, parking changes will also be made to other beach parks. Fish Haul Beach Park and Chaplin Beach Park will also see the addition of paid parking from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Meanwhile, fees will be increased at several areas: the 21 metered spaces at Islander’s Beach Park, the 50 spaces at Folly Field Beach Park, and the 168 metered spots at Driessen Beach Park.
So, if you’re planning to visit Hilton Head’s beautiful beaches next year, make sure to keep these costs in mind! While it’s a change that might pinch some wallets, it’s all part of the town’s broader effort to enhance the beach experience while addressing the needs of visitors and residents alike. Don’t forget, Coligny Beach Park remains free for the time being, so there’s still a place to enjoy the sun without worrying about parking fees!
