News Release

May 1 Ribbon-cutting Planned for Shelter Cove Sculpture Trail & Charles Cousins Bench Dedication

April 28, 2023

The public is invited to join the Town of Hilton Head Island leaders and staff for the grand opening of the recently completed Shelter Cove Sculpture Trail adjacent to the Veterans Memorial Park and the dedication of the Charles Cousins Bench.

Ribbon-cutting and dedication events will take place at 10:30 am Monday, May 1. Limited public event parking is available at Veterans Memorial Park. Attendees are encouraged to park at the trailhead adjacent to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office. The Breeze Trolley will provide shuttle service from the trailhead to the event location.

Shelter Cove Sculpture Trail

The Town constructed the Shelter Cove Sculpture Trail project over the last two years. It connects Shelter Cove Community Park and Shelter Cove Veteran's Memorial Park to a new trailhead parking area. It also features a temporary display of public art sculptures. Five sculptures incorporating Island wildlife and environmental themes are currently installed along the trail.

Through this project, the Town aimed to create a public pathway network along Broad Creek and Shelter Cove Lane. In the future, it will be connected to the proposed Chaplin Linear Park. The trail features:

• Realigned and widened sections of a multi-use pathway.
• A boardwalk along the waterfront of Veteran's Park.
• A pedestrian timber bridge between Veteran's Park and Waterwalk II.
• Additional public parking and a trailhead located on Town-owned property.
• Public art and sculpture gardens.
• Views of Broad Creek.
• Interpretive signage to share the history and ecology of Broad Creek. 

Charles Cousins Bench

The Charles Cousins Bench will be dedicated in honor of Cousins, who was employed at the Town for 32 years. During his tenure, Charles held several positions in the Community Development Department. He eventually rose to become the department's director. Just before retiring from the Town in October 2020, he served as Assistant to the Town Manager.

Over the years, Charles was very involved in planning and managing numerous efforts, including:

• Development of the Town's impact fee ordinance.
• A variety of road and infrastructure improvements.
• Extension of water and sewer services in Ward One.
• Development of the 2010 Airport Master Plan that led to the runway expansion project.
• Redevelopment of the Shelter Cove area.
• Expansion of the Island Rec Center.
• Enhancements to the Coligny and Sea Pines Circles.
• Development of the USCB Hospitality Campus off Pope Avenue and Lowcountry Celebration Park.
• Hurricane Mathew disaster recovery.

As a bicycling enthusiast, Charles lent his knowledge and expertise to expanding the Island's pathway system and the Town's successful pursuit of a Bicycle Friendly Community designation. In addition, he played a key role in the Town's recognition as an Audubon International Green Community.

For more information about the Shelter Cove Sculpture Trail or the Charles Cousins Bench, contact the Town's Office of Communications at 843-341-4618, or visit hiltonheadislandsc.gov.