Council to consider state registry designation for South Wilmington Sandhills; councilor asks whether area is under threat

Council member (speaker 2) asked whether the South Wilmington Sandhills — a portion located in Halliburton Park — were under threat of being used for another purpose, saying he was familiar with the area and wanted to know "what was the problem with it."

Amy Hawk, a staff member, replied: "Not at all, sir. It is really a promotional tool for the park and for Wilmington, to be included in the registry, by the state. So we'll use it in that manner. But, no, there was no threat."

The clerk had earlier listed Resolution R1: a resolution to execute a registry agreement with the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to further protect and preserve a portion of the area known as the South Wilmington Sandhills located within Halliburton Park. The transcript records the question and the staff response but does not show a vote, the text of the resolution, or additional debate.

Why it matters: registry designation can be used as a preservation tool that signals local intent to protect open space and can be referenced in future planning or outreach. In this exchange, a council member raised a concern that the listing might be a reaction to a threat; staff clarified that the purpose is promotional and protective rather than a response to immediate pressure.

Next steps: the clerk indicated the resolution was on the consent agenda; the transcript does not record whether the council ultimately approved the resolution, nor does it include the registry agreement text or conditions. Further coverage should reference the full resolution and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources registry terms.