Driessen Beach Park
In 1921, Henry Driessen Senior purchased 30 acres within the former Chaplin Plantation (now the Chaplin Community of Hilton Head Island). This parcel of land ran from Bradley Beach Road (owned by the Samuel Christopher family) to the Burke Family Tract (and from Highway 278 to the Atlantic Ocean – see ‘Map of Original 30 Acre Parcel, below). Henry Driessen Jr. lost his father when he was 16 years old. He worked as a fisherman and a shrimp boat operator, and would later become a great public servant for the Town of HHI (the island’s first Gullah / African-American Councilperson).
Most of this family land was eventually donated or sold by Mr. Driessen and his family to the Town of HHI. 12 acres became open space, preventing a large amount of development. On this land there is currently a sign that says reads that “at this location was grown the first crop of sea island cotton in South Carolina”. In 1992, he transferred another 11.77 acres to the Town to become Driessen Beach Park. Decades earlier, there was a small hotel and a pavilion for large family celebrations on the land. Bradley Beach had been a popular vacation destination for African American families in the 1950s and 60’s.
Mr. Driessen retained a small parcel (0.229 Acres) that had originally connected Bradley Circle to Bradley Beach Road (then dirt roads); prior to the park becoming established. His sister Josephine Driessen created the Bradley Circle subdivision, just to the south of the park (in 1972); and this small parcel had always enabled residents to access the larger parcel (with it’s family amenities) and to get to the beach. At the time, it was a dirt road that allowed folks to move between Bradley Circle and Bradley Beach Road. After the park was established in 1992, this parcel continued to provide a pedestrian connection to the park, enabling folks south of the park to continue accessing the newly established Beach Park and the park’s boardwalk to get to the beach.
It also provided freedom of movement for the great number of locals and visitors who either walk, run, or bike the island – allowing them to travel between beach parks – and avoid busy Highway 278 (especially important if riding bikes with small children). In 2002, Mr. Driessen made certain that this pedestrian connection would continue to be facilitated (by relocating it 100 feet) when he sold this small access-parcel to “Stella Del Mare” (a private, gated community at the end of Bradley Circle). This access-easement (created and signed by the Town) ensured that this public connection was maintained into the future, as originally intended, despite the “exclusive” gated development (Stella Del Mare).
The relocated access-gate remained in-place for another 20+ years (from 2002 until May of 2023); when it was abruptly and improperly closed by the Town without valid explanation. We are still fighting to re-open this long-established pedestrian park-access.
Sadly, Mr. Driessen passed-away earlier this year (April 1, 2024) at 96 years of age. He left a wonderful legacy of public service, having served on Town Council for several years – and of having donated large tracts of his family’s land to be protected for open space and to become one of the island’s largest oceanfront parks – ‘Driessen Beach Park’.
When the pedestrian access to this great public park is restored, it will be fitting for the access-gate leading into Driessen Beach Park to be named in his honor – for his commitment to serving ‘all of the people’. Today, the Driessen family lands benefit everyone – not only those who are fortunate enough to live here, but all those who come to the island to appreciate the immense beauty of the pristine and protected nature. Thank you Mr. Henry (a.k.a. “Jack Frost”).
