Hilton Head’s Old Schoolhouse Park Pickleball Courts Reopen March 9

Hilton Head Island will reopen Old Schoolhouse Park’s six rebuilt pickleball courts on Monday, March 9, 2026, restoring a public play peg at 25 Adriana Lane and giving players space for 24 players at once. The town says the courts were fully replaced and resurfaced with upgraded asphalt and new fencing after being closed since early December.

Town officials say the renovation was part of a wider park upgrade that began with construction of a new restroom building in November. Town Manager Marc Orlando framed the work as part of municipal planning goals: “Adding new amenities and upgrading our pickleball courts aligns with our strategic plan to enhance our parks, particularly those most used by the community.” Orlando added that the site’s improvements support accessibility and community use: “Old Schoolhouse Park is a popular gathering place where people enjoy the outdoors. These improvements reflect our commitment to providing accessible and high-quality amenities for our community.”

Island Recreation Center will resume organized drop-in ladder play on the renovated courts, with scheduled social sessions Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Island Rec release quoted in Island Packet stresses open access: “All levels of play are welcome to join without pre-registration.” The center also spelled out the ladder format: “The format for social drop-in is largely unchanged since before the construction. Court 1 is the highest level of play and Court 6 is the lowest. Players who win may move up a court and players who lose move down. Balls will not be provided during drop-in times.”

Outside scheduled social play, the town says the courts will be available mainly to members by reservation. Island Recreation Center and community listings show 2026 pass pricing of $75 for an annual membership, $25 for a weekly membership and $10 for a daily visitor pass. Players seeking verification or reservations can contact the Island Rec Center at 843-681-7273, and project questions can be directed to Senior Project Manager Neal Eike at NealE@hiltonheadislandsc.gov or 843-384-4711.

Local listings and social posts add community details that differ slightly from the official releases. A GearyGroupHHI Threads post lists permanent nets, a hydration station, a storage room, a Challenge Court and a separate portable-net court on a converted basketball court, and claims open play hours of 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily for intermediate and advanced players. The town and Island Rec releases do not confirm those specific features or the alternate hours, so players and organizers should confirm availability with Island Rec or Neal Eike before planning events.

Old Schoolhouse Park sits on the original site of the consolidated Hilton Head Elementary School that opened in 1954, and the town notes local history is highlighted in the Experience Gullah App launched last fall by the Gullah Geechee Historic Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation. The March 9 reopening restores a community hub that combines new amenities - a unisex restroom building with covered area, accessible parking spaces, a connecting sidewalk, a water bottle filling station and upgraded courts - and returns ladder-style drop-in play to one of Hilton Head’s most-used park sites.