NHCO commissioners approve $1M agreement for new $9M public park
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY-TV) – On Monday, New Hanover County commissioners committed $1 million to help buy land for a new public park in Wilmington.
In a 3-2 vote, commissioners approved an agreement with the city and The New Hanover Community Endowment.
The $9 million park is located on 25 acres off Greenville Loop Road near Bradely Creek Elementary School.
“It’s something that we have committed to as a priority is to open space we’ve heard our citizens say they don’t want everything to be developed,” said Commissioner LeAnn Pierce.
Pierce said the county’s $1 million contributed to the new park will come out of the county’s tree fund.
Piece, Dane Scalise and Bill Rivenbark all approved the agreement saying it’s important to preserve the county’s green space.
“And that not every parcel of this community needs to be turned into houses or apartments and here’s an example of us achieving that,” Scalise said.
Though, Rob Zapple and Stephanie Walker weren’t on the same page as the other commissioners. Zapple said he’s concerned for the transparency from an environmental standpoint asking to see a wetland delineation map, which marks boundaries between wetlands and a phase one environmental study for the park.
Zapple said these documents have not been shared with the board.
“There is almost $10 million of public money involved in this transaction and I believe transparency, full-disclosure is not only advisable, but necessary,” Zapple said.
Zapple also said the price of the park is more than four times the value of the county’s property tax appraisal.
Walker said she agreed with the green space preservation, but not the timeline of the project.
“While I support the intent I do not feel that I have enough information to support it today,” Walker said.
Still, the agreement passed 3-2 after Wilmington city council already approved a $1 million contribution while the endowment is providing more than $7 million. Under the agreement, the city must design, build and open the park within the next five years.
“It’s good will on the part of the county and the city working together and to preserve open space for New Hanover County and have parks in our system for our future generations to enjoy,” Pierce said.
The city said this partnership with the county builds on the board of commissioner’s preservation of nearly 100 acres of green space in the past year alone.
