WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Carolina Beach leaders are bringing in outside experts to help plan a proposed oceanfront park and event stage along the town’s boardwalk, a project Mayor Lynn Barbee estimates could approach $20 million.
The town has already spent $12 million to purchase property for the park. Its design and final cost is still up in the air.
The UNC School of Government’s Development Finance Initiative will help gather community input and develop plans for the project. The $114,700 consulting contract will be paid over two years, with a grant from the New Hanover Community Endowment covering the cost, according to town leaders.
Council members first heard a presentation from the UNC team during a special meeting Tuesday morning. They waited until their 6 p.m. council meeting to hear from the public during public comment.
Several people spoke in favor of working with the UNC School of Government, while others raised concerns about park maintenance costs and high-rise development discussed during the morning presentation from previous projects from the group.
“We’re used to being the most unique beach on the North Carolina coast, and I don’t want to see some of those details change,” one resident said.
Barbee said the town wants professional guidance before moving ahead with a project of this size.
“I think this council wants to make sure we do it a little differently, that we take our time, we get some professional help, so that we do it right,” he said.
The mayor said community input sessions and open houses could help determine what residents want in the park. The UNC team would then help turn that feedback into plans that could be presented to developers.
“We want to get that feedback,” Barbee said. “How do you turn that desire, that vision into something real?”
Barbee estimated that building out the park could cost another $5 million or $6 million beyond the land purchase, though he stressed that the price could change depending on what the community wants. He said ideas such as a splash pad have come up on social media, but no decisions have been made about what the park will include.
Barbee said his preferred timeline would be to begin the first phase of construction next winter and a second phase the following winter. He said the goal is to limit disruptions to nearby businesses and visitors during the busy summer season.
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