Is golf course purchase right decision?

The City of Wilmington is trying to buy another golf course. City Council members say purchasing Inland Greens would fulfill a promise they made when floating the 2006 Parks Bond.

The city previously offered $400,000 for the golf course off Cardinal Drive. At tonight’s City Council Meeting the council decided to up the offer to $550,000. The money would come from the parks bond.

This comes as the city faces a $7 million shortfall and is considering a tax increase. When the city floated the park bond, it said it would not result in a tax increase. Now the city is not so sure. Mayor Pro-Tem Earl Sheridan says City Council is obligated to spend the money as it promised four years ago.

“When we advertised the park bond we advertised for particular projects and that kind of thing to be done with the money,” Sheridan said. “One of those things was parks for the newly annexed area. Inland Greens Park would be something in the newly annexed area.”

The city plans to keep nine holes of the par three course running and use the rest as a passive park and as part of the Cross City Trail.