HILTON HEAD ISLAND – A unique inclusive playground has been greenlighted by the Town Council for development at Shelter Cove Community Park. Town authorities have joined forces with Best Buddies and Miracle Recreation, an organization focused on creating opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and a playground manufacturer, respectively.
Given approval on August 20, the playground is set to make Hilton Head Island one of the first municipalities to install a Best Buddies-Miracle Recreation playground. The Town Council members were unanimously in favor of the project. Councilman Alex Brown noted that the project aligns with the town’s vision of creating an inclusive community and that being a pioneer is cause for celebration.
Though detailed design plans for the playground are slated for completion in 2025, the nonprofit organization has provided an overview of what the playground will feature. This inclusive play area will boast surfaces such as tiles, turf, or poured-in-place surfacing to assist those with balance issues or mobility devices to traverse the playground with ease. It will also house equipment for sensory play and tools specifically designed for wheelchair users and children living with hypertonia.
In addition to the playground, plans to upgrade Shelter Cove Community Park have also been set into motion. A project for the park’s expansion was scoped out in April 2022 by a consultant team and town staff. Town Council adopted the Master Plan for Shelter Cove that encompasses a variety of upgrades. The improvements listed include an expanded park promenade, additional parking spaces, a pathway network through the resident forested area, a larger inclusive playground, public art adorned passive open lawn spaces, and an overlook structure with scenic Broad Creek views.
Councilwoman Patsy Brison expressed enthusiasm about the project and believes that Shelter Cove, renowned for being a popular gathering place, is an ideal location for the inclusive playground. The design work will begin in 2025 with half a million dollars allocated from the town’s 2025 Capital Improvement Plan. Plans have been drawn up for construction to commence the following year, in 2026.
