News Release

Town to Host Community Meeting on Patterson Family Park Plans

August 27, 2025

The Town of Hilton Head Island invites residents and stakeholders to a community meeting to see the latest plans and features for the future Patterson Family Park. The meeting will take place as follows:

• Date: Thursday, Sept. 4
• Time: 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
• Location: Island Recreation Center – Community Room, 20 Wilborn Road

Town staff, together with the design team from local landscape architecture firm Witmer Jones Keefer, will share updates on the design and construction timeline for this new 3.65-acre park at 23 Marshland Road. The design for the future park has been shaped by the area’s history and the ideas residents shared during previous community meetings.

The Town purchased this parcel of land in 2001. For generations, it was home to the late Alexander “Mitt” Patterson, Sr., and his family, who worked the land as a thriving farm both before and after Hilton Head Island was connected to the mainland by bridge. Like many Gullah families, the Pattersons depended on farming as their way of life, tending fields with the help of horses kept in their stables. They were well known for raising cattle, cultivating corn, owning multiple tracts of land, and transporting goods to the market in Savannah, Georgia. Beyond farming, the family also operated the Mitt Patterson Store, a neighborhood concession that provided essential goods for native Islanders.

“Creating great parks in historical spaces helps us preserve our Island’s culture and neighborhoods. This park not only captures and celebrates the history of the community along Marshland Road, but it also provides a vibrant space for families, neighbors, and future generations. I’m excited to see it come to fruition,” said Mayor Alan Perry.

The new park will honor the Patterson family and celebrate the community’s rich agricultural history. Plans include the following amenities:

• Covered pavilion with interpretive panels sharing the family’s history.
• Pedestrian walkway that tells the story of the land through interpretive signs and displays.
• Playground inspired by Gullah farming traditions, and swings.
• Open lawn for activities.
• Grills for cookouts and a designated oyster-roasting area.
• Platform overlooking the marsh and water views of Broad Creek.
• Parking, restrooms and bicycle racks.

The Patterson Family Park project is part of the Town’s strategic goal to enhance community well-being by enhancing its network of parks and recreational amenities.  For more information, contact Scott Harris, Senior Project Manager, at (843) 715-4316 or via email at ScottH@hiltonheadislandsc.gov.