Project Overview

On December 17, 2024, Hampton County and the Hampton County School District entered into a Memorandum of Understanding in which the School District agreed to convey the existing Hampton County High School property (formerly Wade Hampton High School) to the County for redevelopment as a recreation center. In accordance with the Memorandum, the County has a one-year due diligence period in which to evaluate the condition of the property as well as its suitability for use as a recreation center.

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Subsequently, Hampton County solicited qualifications from architects and engineers to complete the due diligence assessment and to develop a master plan that could be implemented in phases, over time, as dictated by budget and need. After reviewing multiple qualifications submissions and conducting interviews, Beaufort Design Build, LLC was hired and a professional services contract was entered into.

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Beaufort Design Build and Hampton County are currently working through the due diligence process and are, at a minimum, evaluating the following with regard to the existing site and buildings:

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• Presence of hazardous materials

• Code deficiencies

• Presence of wetlands

• Accessibility deficiencies

• Condition of buildings and equipment

• Suitability for proposed uses

• Topographic limitations

• Storm water requirements

• Parking needs and requirements

​Running parallel to the evaluation tasks outlined above, the Team is also looking at preliminary concepts for development of the property to provide organized and informal sports and recreation opportunities. Concepts being developed begin with requirements and recommendations outlined in the above referenced Memorandum of Understanding and a Master Plan Study conducted by Hampton County in 2021.

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2021 Recreation Master Plan Study

In 2021, Hampton County and Alliance Engineering conducted a study of existing County-wide recreational facilities, existing deficiencies and long- and short-term goals for improvement and expansion. The Study, which utilized demographic data and information gathered through public forums and questionnaires, had a primary goal of determining what types of recreational facilities Hampton County residents feel are most important and most needed.

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The recommendations of the Study suggest that public input calls for a centralized recreation complex with a focus on:

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• A baseball / softball complex

• Indoor basketball and other gymnasium functions

• Multi-purpose football / soccer fields

• Non-organized activities such as playgrounds, picnic areas, walking/running trails, etc.

• Fitness center

• Senior citizens center

• Tennis / pickle ball courts​

Additionally, the Study made recommendations for five- and ten-year goals based on an initial budget of approximately three million, five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000.00). The five-year plan consists of the previously referenced centralized recreation complex, while the ten-year plan suggests that additional facilities be provided in lower-income outlying towns and communities.

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The Study identifies the area in and around the cities of Hampton, Varnville and Estill as being well-situated for the goal of providing a recreation complex central to Hampton County. It is also worth noting that the Town of Hampton’s population of 2,907 people is the highest and densest in the County.

Memorandum of Understanding

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Hampton County School District and Hampton County stipulates that if, after the due diligence process has been completed, the County chooses to move forward with transfer of the property, it will purchase the property for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars $250,000.00).

Additionally, the County will allow Hampton County High School continued use of the fields and associated facilities until the new High School is complete. During that time, the School District will be responsible for maintenance of the exterior fields and will continue to utilize the fields for North District Middle School athletics for as long as that School remains a middle school.

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Finally, the Memorandum states that (in addition to the recreational uses suggested by the 2021 Master Plan Study), the site should include an arts and dance center and a gymnastics room.