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Skateboarders, parents urge upgraded skate park; council says redesign, pump track and separate pickleball plan are in CIP
Summary
Multiple speakers during public comment urged repair and redesign of Hilton Head Island's skate park; council and staff said Crossings Park renovations and a separate pickleball complex are distinct projects and that a skate‑park redo plus a pump track is proposed for FY27 with community input and design work to follow.
Several residents, youth and program volunteers urged the council Feb. 10 to prioritize repair and redesign of the town’s skate park and to preserve space for skateboarders amid new pickleball construction.
Maxie Hicks told council a dedicated skate park ‘‘is an investment in youth, health, and community pride’’ and said the current facility is dilapidated and sends the message that skateboarders are not fully recognized. Youth speaker Gabriel Maxey Hicks and Gage Malphurs described skateboarding’s personal and community benefits and urged a safe municipal facility.
Volunteer Abby Caprucio (transcript spelling varied) said she leads an after‑school skateboard program and described the park as an accessible, low‑cost outlet that keeps children engaged and off screens. She urged the town to keep the skate park at its current location with a safer design or to consider placement near Bristol Sports Park while preserving program access.
Resident Linda Harrington commended recent transparency measures and recommended clearer labeling of storm sewers so residents know where runoff flows, a suggestion she framed as an environmental‑stewardship step.
Council and staff clarified that pickleball construction on the north end of the island and Crossings Park skate‑park renovations are separate projects. Town Manager Orlando said he plans to propose full funding for a standalone pickleball complex as a FY27 project and separately proposed a Crossings Park phase that would include a complete redo of the current skate park and an added pump track. Orlando said the design is near completion, the town will hold community input sessions, and the CIP workshop on Feb. 24 will review FY26 and FY27 spending and new project requests.
Council asked staff to provide more information and community‑input opportunities before any final decisions.
