Chaplin Community Park

Chaplin Community Park is a 111‑acre multi‑use recreational area located at 11 Cast Net Drive on Hilton Head Island, SC— right between William Hilton Parkway, Burkes Beach Road, and Singleton Beach Road. The park takes its name from the historic Chaplin Gullah community which was a farming and fishing settlement established in the early 1900s between Broad Creek and the Atlantic shore (Burkes, Singleton, Bradley Beaches). Residents were skilled in cast-net fishing and basket weaving, and the area included communal gathering spots, churches (e.g., Central Oak Grove Missionary Baptist), cemeteries (like Joe Pope Cemetery), and the original Chaplin Elementary School. Town leaders purchased the land in the mid-1990’s during a local real estate downturn and turned this area into a community park that opened officially in 2001 as public parkland.

Chaplin Community Park’s trail system is suitable for all ages whether you want a leisurely walk or a short bike ride. There is a paved loop trail that surrounds the park and additional paths provide access to a marsh and creek with views and easy beach access. The park’s connected trails total between 1–3 miles depending on the routes you take and  the trails connect all the major park areas – including parking lots, the dog park, sports fields, playgrounds, and beach access at Burkes Beach.  Parking is free year-round for youth sports activities at Chaplin Community Park including during weekdays, but after the youth sports season ends in mid-May and through mid-September there are parking fees for parking that must be paid through the park’s digital app.