Save Echo Farms holds forum on Wilmington’s greenspace

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – Many Wilmington residents are concerned that the growth of the city is cutting into greenspace and are worried it will all soon be gone. Tuesday night, hundreds came together to discuss that, among many other topics.

Hundreds filled the Roland Grice auditorium to hear a presentation from the Save Echo Farms board about greenspace, something that many people who live in Wilmington believe to be very important to the city.

“I think that it’s absolutely essential,” said Echo Farms homeowner Paul Woodbury. “We don’t have any and we’re cutting down trees as fast as we can cut them down.”

According to a study done by the Save Echo Farms group, Wilmington greenspace is indeed disappearing. They say that there is now less greenspace per person than in New York City. But they also say residents can help to make that change.

“Our greenspace issues, and protecting and growing our park area, runs through echo farms,” said Vice Chair of Save Echo Farms John Hirchak. He says that residents have the power to vote in the November election to make their voices heard.

“If people are tired of all this rampant over development, there’s a solution out there. if we’re going to change the way we do things here in Wilmington, it runs through November,” he added.

Hirchak says that saving Echo Farms could turn into 20%  more greenspace for the area. With open communication with builders, along with future meetings with mayor Bill Saffo, he has a bold prediction for the future of Echo Farms.

“We have a great chance of winning this.”

Hirchak said that in order to win this Echo Farms fight, they are working to raise $20,000 to pay for legal fees and other efforts to save the community.

Click here to learn how to help the Save Echo Farms group.