Pedestrian Access-gate to Driessen Beach Park
On May 15, 2023 – without warning – the Town of Hilton Head Island abruptly boarded-up the access-gate between the Driessen Beach Park and Bradley Circle – cutting-off this amazing local park for everyone south of the park. While it was claimed to be a “safety issue”; a FOIA request confirmed that it was managed with statements that were absolutely incorrect – including “The beach park is rarely accessed by those on Bradley Circle” (when it was in-use regularly for over 30 years); and “The gate appears to serve no legitimate purpose” (as if families wishing to access a lovely park – whether to enjoy the playground with children, or to walk their pets, etc. etc. etc. – are illegitimate purposes)!
It further stated that “Bradley Circle residents, renters and guests have a private beach access off Sweet Grass Manor”. While some properties do have an easement to use the private beach access right-of-way; the large majority do not have such an easement associated with their property deed. The truth is that the beach park had always provided the primary beach-access boardwalk for Bradley Circle and Sandy Beach Trail residents and guests to be able to safely access the beach and the Atlantic Ocean (one that is well-maintained, and that will always be restored after serious storms). Therefore, those properties without private beach access have had their only means of legal beach-access (via the amazing beach access boardwalk within the beach park) blocked by the Town (in addition to being unable to simply visit and enjoy the lovely tree-shaded park – for any number of legitimate purposes).
But why? The Town said it was for ‘safety purposes’, but I have been unable to locate any police reports identified with the pedestrian right-of-way to/from this park in the over three decades that it has served the community. Incidentally, serious crimes such as ‘Breaking and Entering’ actually increased after the gate was blocked (unsurprising, as there are any number of ways for someone to enter the neighborhood, including entering directly from the “public” (“ungated”) Beaufort County Road – Bradley Circle (or from the beach by using any number of un-gated ‘private’ beach-access walkways).
This public beach park access is a legal, public access-easement right-of-way; with three separate easement agreements signed by the Town, dedicating it as a ‘permanent’ public right-of-way. Ever since Henry Driessen transferred the 11.77 Acres of land to the Town for this public park, there has been an pedestrian access-gate providing access to and from the beach park for residents/guests on Bradley Circle (which was his sister Josephine Driessen’s property, from which she created the Bradley Circle neighborhood). This right-of-way also allowed two historic native-islander neighborhoods to remain connected (Bradley Beach and Bradley Circle – once being connected dirt roads). This connection enabled the locals and visitors to enjoy this lovely/shady park and to move between Chaplin Park and Driessen Park (and to do so without having to bike with one’s children on the dangerous trails alongside busy Highway 278 (extremely important if safety is the concern).
I believe that this closure was an improper action by the Town. This would explain why the Town has yet to provide any answers or a simple solution (a security camera on location – like every other park-entrance). Town management does not seem to be concerned that the closure of this park-access has degraded our way of life and created legal problems for property owners. Other area neighborhoods continue to enjoy unfettered access to the beach and the surrounding beach parks. Only Bradley Circle has been isolated from it’s neighborhood park (and the park’s beach-access boardwalk); EVEN DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS – and all without just cause, in my opinion.
Neighborhood connections are extremely important – and pedestrian-access to public parks should be increased rather than restricted! As for “Beach-Access” – it is, after all, an inalienable right under the Public Trust Doctrine. Here are some of the reasons that ‘neighborhood connections’ are important – according to the Town’s own strategic planning documents:
the Town of HHI underscores its commitment: to an “inclusive, connected community“
and to “facilitate true connectivity” (‘Town Strategic Plan’);
to promote “inclusion and access for all parks“ to “promote and prioritize the value parks and recreation“; (‘Our Core Values’);
to “adding connections and access“& to “create a walkable district that seamlessly integrates existing development and neighborhoods” (‘Mid-Island District Plan’);
to make “connections from residential areas and vacation areas to major destinations“, & to
“look for opportunities to carry users away from vehicular traffic“ (‘Parks and Recreation Master Plan’).
Are these statements endorsed by the Town or are they mere slogans?
