Parks and Open Space Board

The Horry County Parks and Open Space Board is an 11 member board that was established to promote open space preservation, natural resource protection, and the expansion of public recreational facilities. The Board is responsible for providing guidance to Horry County Council on areas to preserve for such uses and for allocating resources from the Open Space Fund. For more information on the responsibilities of the Board, visit the Horry County Code of Ordinances (Chapter 15, Article VII, Section 15-124). Upcoming meetings can be found on the County’s meeting calendar at: http://www.horrycounty.org/Calendar. 

The Horry County Parks & Open Space Plan is currently going through the approval process through Planning Commission and later through County Council. The Parks and Open Space Board has recommended that the plan be approved and incorporated into the Horry County Comprehensive Plan. The plan addresses current demand for recreation facilities and highlights areas of the County to focus conservation efforts. The plan also accounts for future population growth and development trends. Community input has been obtained through a county-wide survey, numerous focus groups, and public meetings. A draft of the plan can be found HERE.

Horry County Parks and Open Space Inventory (2016)

• The Horry County Parks & Open Space Board formally adopted the inventory in July 2016. This document is intended to provide baseline information on existing parks and recreation facilities and the distribution of open space throughout the county.

Horry County Health and Recreation Initiative Survey (2015)

• Coastal Carolina University’s Swain Scholars Program developed and conducted a county-wide recreation survey in partnership with Horry County Planning & Zoning and Horry County Parks & Recreation.

Horry County Parks and Open Space Plan (adopted 2009)

• This plan identifies the need for green infrastructure and open space preservation in Horry County. A Green Infrastructure Map (2008) was developed as part of this plan.

Horry County Recreation Needs Assessment 1999-2009

• This was Horry County’s first recreation plan.

Parks & Open Space Board Brochure

Recreational Opportunities in Horry County Brochure

Interested in donating your land or providing funding for park development or conservation? Contact Ashley Cowen at 843-915-7894 or cowen.ashley@horrycounty.org for more information on how to contribute to Horry County Parks & Open Space.  for more information on how to contribute to the Horry County Parks & Open Space Fund.