CAROLINA BEACH — New rules could be coming to Freeman Park including how many campers and vehicles would be allowed per campsite.
Carolina Beach’s Town Council will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning for a workshop in which town leaders will discuss the potential for new regulations at the park. (Council members will also receive an update on the town’s lake dredging process, and hear on the status of the Waste Water Treatment Plant discharge pipe.)
New rules for Freeman Park stem from previous Town Council meetings during which concerns about excess trash on the property were raised. The council had requested potential solutions from town staff.
Town staff Tuesday will highlight five concerns, including: environmental stewardship, trash, public safety, traffic congestion and camping.
According to the presentation documents in the board’s agenda, changes are being recommended to take place in phases.
Phase one would establish additional ordinance rules for campsites. First, proposed rules would allow no more than two vehicles per campsite, and vehicles would be required to park within the campsite.
There is also the suggestion to allow no more than eight people per campsite and all campers would be required to wear wristbands and check in at the booth.
Staff has also recommended signage and brochures in English and Spanish as well, as videos, regarding the park rules. Parking lot improvements would prohibit overnight parking and no public showers or restrooms would be available after 10 p.m.
Proposed changes in phase two would close the park to vehicle entry at 9 p.m. and require all day trip visitors to the park to leave the beach by 11 p.m. Four-wheel drive vehicles would be the only ones permitted in the park.
To address the trash concerns, day trip visitors would be required to pack in/pack out with blue barrels and white dumpsters only for campers. The presentation concludes that the new rules would be finalized in 2018 and fully enforced.
No action is expected to take place during the Tuesday morning workshop. The board would discuss the proposals and vote at a future meeting.
Michael Praats can be reached at Michael.p@localvoicemedia.com
