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Town News This Week - August 8, 2025 |
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To keep our residents and visitors informed, we’ll be sharing weekly updates and reminders about the progress of our beach renourishment project. Here’s a look at what happened this week to move Phase 1 of the project forward at Fish Haul Beach, along with a preview of what to expect next week.
This week's completed activities:
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Thursday, Aug. 7: Marinex Construction began mobilizing equipment at Fish Haul Beach in preparation for renourishment work.
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Beach Access Mats: The mobi-mats leading to the shoreline were temporarily removed and will be reinstalled once the project at Fish Haul Beach Park is complete.
Next week's planned activities:
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Equipment Staging: This activity will continue at Fish Haul Beach Park and offshore through Sept. 1.
Reminders of future activities:
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Renourishment Work: Active sand placement is expected to begin the week of Sept. 2 and wrap up by the week of Sept. 15.
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Temporary Closure: Fish Haul Beach will be closed to the public for approximately five days in early September once sand placement begins.
As there are many factors that can impact the project schedule, particularly weather and marine conditions, the public is encouraged to stay updated on the project’s progress—including location schedules, photos, FAQs, and an interactive map that you can view to follow along. More information can be found as follows:
For more information or answers to questions regarding beach renourishment, please reach out to communications@hiltonheadislandsc.gov.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to enhance and preserve our Island’s shoreline. Stay tuned for more updates!
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We are excited to share the latest progress on the Taylor Family Park. After months of collaboration, planning, and community input, we’re ready to unveil updated designs and features for this future park in the Squire Pope historic neighborhood.
Join us on Monday, Aug. 21, for a community meeting where Town staff and the design team from Witmer Jones Keefer, a local landscape architecture firm, will present the latest plans for this 4.9-acre park at 252 Wild Horse Road. The meeting will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Hilton Head Island Recreation Center, 20 Wilborn Road.
Come see how your input is helping to shape a vibrant space for families, neighbors, and future generations. You’ll also learn how this project supports the Town’s strategic goal to enhance community well-being.
For more information, contact Senior Project Manager Scott Harris at 843-715-4316 or ScottH@hiltonheadislandsc.gov. We hope to see you there!
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The Town is excited to announce the completion of the new Pope Avenue Pocket Park, located at 69 Pope Avenue on the former site of Aunt Chilada’s Easy Street Cafe. The Town originally acquired the 1.29-acre property last fall using tax increment financing (TIF) from the Pope Avenue TIF District, which supports local redevelopment and community enhancement projects in the area.
Designed as a small, welcoming green space, the pocket park features a pathway and a scenic setting perfect for relaxing or gathering with friends and family. It's conveniently located just 0.2 miles from Lowcountry Celebration Park. Stop by and enjoy this great spot.
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The Town of Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue is excited to announce that Text-to-911 is now available on the Island.
This important emergency service allows you to send a text message to 911 from your mobile device when making a call isn’t possible. This feature can be especially helpful for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities, as well as for those who may be unable to speak or hear safely during an emergency. While calling is still the fastest and most preferred way to reach emergency services, texting can be a lifesaving option in certain situations. Users are reminded to "call if you can, text if you can't." Please note that Text-to-911 is not available everywhere. Residents and visitors should be aware that this service may not work in areas outside Hilton Head Island where it hasn’t been activated.
To effectively use Text-to-911:
- Enter 911 without spaces or hyphens
- Include your location and the reason for your emergency.
- Use complete words and sentences, not abbreviations.
- Don’t text 911 in a group chat or send photos, videos, GIFs, or emojis.
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Join us for the second installment of Money Talks, an engaging seminar series designed to support small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in developing and sustaining their businesses. Session two will focus on access to capital and funding opportunities.
Tuesday, August 19
5:30 – 7 p.m.
Hilton Head Island Recreation Center, 20 Wilborn Road
Now in its second year, Money Talks is presented by the Gullah Geechee Historic Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation (CDC) in partnership with TD Bank and the Island Rec Center. This informative series will continue monthly through November, always from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Hilton Head Island Recreation Center. In a recent interview on WHHI-TV, Thomas Boxley, Executive Director of the CDC, gave a breakdown of what to expect from the Money Talks seminar series.
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Community invited to share input on accessibility needs as part of self-assessment and transition plan
The Town of Hilton Head Island invites residents, stakeholders, and members of the disability community to participate in a public Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Open House on Aug. 14 at Town Hall. This event marks the official kickoff of the Town’s ADA Self-Assessment and Transition Plan process.
Open house sessions will be held at:
Location: Town Hall - Benjamin M. Racusin Town Council Chambers, 1 Town Center Court
Times: 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
The ADA Open House will provide an opportunity for community members to learn more about the Town’s efforts to evaluate its public facilities, programs, and services for accessibility, and to contribute feedback on barriers that may affect individuals with disabilities.
“Our goal is to ensure that everyone in our community has equal access to the programs, services, and facilities offered by the Town,” said Mayor Alan Perry. “The input we receive during this process will help shape a more inclusive and accessible future for Hilton Head Island.”
The ADA Self-Assessment and Transition Plan is a requirement of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and serves as a roadmap for identifying and addressing barriers to access. The open house will feature informational displays, opportunities for one-on-one conversations with Town staff and our consultant, and ways for participants to provide input in writing or verbally.
Community members who cannot attend in person will have the opportunity to participate by completing an online accessibility survey or submitting comments by email or mail. Details on how to participate remotely will be available at a later date.
For more information, contact Angie Stone at 843-341-4622 or angies@hiltonheadislandsc.gov.
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The Town is proud to support the next generation of local government leaders. This summer, we had the opportunity to host four student interns: Rachel Del Gaizo, James Strohbusch, Kendal Wagner, and Parker Ray. Throughout their internships, they gained real-world experience across various Town departments, including Code Enforcement, Community Planning, Cultural Affairs, Fire Rescue, Finance, GIS, and Stormwater.
On the recent National Intern Day (July 31), we celebrated them and their contributions by having them pose for photos with their department leaders. Some of these leaders, including Town Manager Marc Orlando, Fire Chief Chris Blankenship, FAO/Paramedic Chris Darmon, and Communications Specialist Kathryn Thorne, also began their careers as interns with the Town.
We’re proud to invest in future public service professionals and thankful for the energy and new perspective these interns brought to our team.
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We are proud to honor Frank Babel, a dedicated advocate for bicycle education, safety, and accessibility in our community. To commemorate his commitment, we have named a section of the pathway and boardwalk at Shelter Cove Community Park in his honor.
The recent naming ceremony celebrated Frank's outstanding service and lifelong dedication to cycling on Hilton Head Island, which has been recognized as a Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. As you enjoy the Frank Babel Pathway and Boardwalk, we hope you are reminded of his tireless efforts to make our Island a safe, accessible, and connected place.
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Courtesy share for Beaufort County
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 Our Director of Cultural Affairs, Natalie Harvey, recently appeared on WHHI-TV to talk about the Jazz in the Park series and other upcoming events.
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Each month, Mayor Alan Perry updates residents on Town initiatives and community events through his columns published in the Hilton Head Sun and CH2 Magazine.
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