NC Coastal Land Trust announces plans to purchase Flossie Bryan tract

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A plan to turn a 60-acre tract along Independence Boulevard into a public nature preserve is moving forward.

The North Carolina Coastal Land Trust announced Tuesday that the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners has authorized staff to negotiate a purchase and sale agreement for the Flossie Bryan tract, located at 3990 Independence Blvd.

Final approval from the board is still required before the transaction can be completed.

The Coastal Land Trust plans to acquire the property for $3 million and convert it into a publicly accessible nature preserve, honoring the wishes of its original owner, Flossie Bryan.

Bryan, a longtime Wilmington resident and licensed practical nurse, worked more than 30 years at James Walker Memorial Hospital. She willed the land to New Hanover County with the intent that it remain preserved as natural, undeveloped space for public use.

“This property sits in the middle of one of the fastest-growing residential corridors in New Hanover County,” said Harrison Marks, executive director of the Coastal Land Trust. “Protecting it permanently as a nature preserve means generations of Wilmington residents will have access to irreplaceable green space, right where they live.”

If approved, the agreement would move toward a closing on or before December 31, 2027.

The Coastal Land Trust says the preserve would be developed in phases. Early plans include a parking area and natural trail system for public access, with long-term goals of building an environmental education facility.

The property includes 7.3 acres of mature longleaf pine forest, among the few remaining unprotected longleaf pine savanna habitats in New Hanover County, along with more than 20 acres targeted for restoration.

It also features freshwater wetlands and headwater tributaries of Barnards Creek, which play a role in stormwater management and water quality for nearby neighborhoods and the lower Cape Fear River watershed.

Officials say the restored preserve would support native plants and pollinators, with mostly unpaved trails designed for nature-based recreation. Some areas are expected to include ADA-accessible features.

“The Flossie Bryan tract offers a rare opportunity to protect and restore one of the most ecologically important habitat types in our region,” said Kenneth Lingerfelt, director of land protection for the Coastal Land Trust.

The Coastal Land Trust intends to launch a public and private fundraising campaign to secure the $3 million needed for the purchase.

Community members interested in supporting the Flossie Bryan Nature Preserve or learning more about the Coastal Land Trust’s work are encouraged to visit www.CoastalLandTrust.org.