WILMINGTON — New Hanover County Commissioners are considering the purchase of 18-acres of land located within the Echo Farms subdivision. The possible purchase could be in partnership with the City of Wilmington, according to a recently released County Commissioners agenda.
The possibility of the city or county purchasing the property had been discussed by members of the Save Echo Farms movement at City Council meetings in the past.
In October of last year, the Echo Farms Golf Course was closed and development has been planned for the former green space. The property would be the former Echo Farms Golf and Country Club.
According to the County Commissioner’s agenda, the purchase of the 18 acres would be for the purposes of “preservation of existing open space and developing a publicly held recreational complex for tennis and swimming on an existing site.”
The county purchase would only represent a portion of the 139-acre golf course and its adjacent facilities. According to Jessica Loeper, communications and outreach coordinator for the county, “If the Commissioners authorize county administration to move forward, the purchase agreement would be for approximately 18 acres of land, including the existing clay tennis courts, tennis clubhouse, and swimming facility.”
County Commissioners will be presented with the option to authorize the county manager to enter into negotiations and bring a final purchase agreement to the commissioners by March 5.
There is no mention of potential cost in the agenda; the board will meet 9 a.m., Jan. 22 to discuss the options.
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