Town of Emerald Isle issued the following announcement on Nov. 14.
At the November 8, 2022, Board of Commissioners meeting, the McLean-Spell Park Masterplan Report by Summit Engineering was reviewed by Town Manager Matt Zapp.
The Board may take action on the report at the December 13, 2022, regular meeting.
Existing Conditions
McLean-Spell Park is a 30-acre parcel named after the
two founding families.1
The park resides on the north side of HWY 58 and is mostly surrounded by single
family homes. Blue Heron Park, the police station, fire department, and community center border the
southern edge of the park along with Archers Creek and surrounding wetlands. Walking trails exist throughout
the park as well as minimal signage and dog waste stations. Most of the park is forested and appears
to be maritime forest, although the upper canopy is dominated by pine species with very few live oaks
and southern magnolias which are present in other southeastern maritime forest communities.2 Bogue
Banks Water Corp. leases a site just over an acre on the park’s northwest corner. Saltwater intrusion had
affected the Castle Hayne Aquifer and the new well site is essential for freshwater supply to the community.3
Purchase of the Land
When the town purchased the parcel for $3 million in 2017, it was zoned for multifamily residential
development. Funding for the purchase came from multiple different sources including $1.5 million
from the US Department of Defense Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program,
$500,000 from the NC Parks and Recreation Trust
Fund, and $545,000 from the NC Land and Water Trust Fund (formerly known as the Clean Water Management
Trust Fund)
You can view the McLean-Spell Park Masterplan Report here.
Original source can be found here.
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