A Brunswick County resident has launched a grassroots campaign to advocate for the creation of a state park and campground along the Lockwood Folly River.
Concerned about the pace of development and diminishing public access to the waterfront, Josh Kirby is calling for state intervention to preserve a portion of the riverfront for recreation and conservation.
Kirby, who grew up in Brunswick County, has started a petition on Change.org to gather support for the proposed “Lockwood Folly River State Park Campground.”
The initiative envisions a publicly accessible area offering various camping options, boat and kayak launches, nature trails, and environmentally friendly facilities.
“To me, we’re losing more than what we know we’re losing, and we need to do something before we all wake up and it’s all gone,” Kirby said.
Inspired by his experiences at Kimball Point Access in Kerr Lake State Recreation Area, Kirby believes a similar model could be replicated locally. He argues that the proposal could be feasible by working with long-time landowners in the area.
“Sure, there’s development all over the place,” he said in a report by StarNews Online.
“But there’s still a lot of land, much of it held by the same people for generations, so I think the possibility of having a state park is really good because I think we could work with some of these families.”
Brunswick County, despite being one of the fastest-growing counties in North Carolina, currently lacks any state parks or campgrounds.
By contrast, neighboring counties such as New Hanover and Columbus offer state parks with recreational amenities. Kirby points to these disparities as part of the motivation behind his campaign.
The petition has received more than 350 signatures since its launch and reflects a growing demand for coastal camping and public waterfront access.
Booking data from the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation shows near-capacity reservations for Carolina Beach State Park through major holidays, indicating limited availability and strong interest in such amenities.
At Huntington Beach State Park in South Carolina, officials have warned of frequent weekend closures due to increased demand, further highlighting the region-wide pressure for affordable recreational space.
Despite community interest, the establishment of a new state park would require multiple stages of approval and significant funding.
According to Michele Walker, spokesperson for the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the General Assembly must first approve the proposal before any land acquisition or management planning can begin.
Funding for such projects typically comes from a combination of state appropriations, federal and state grants, and private fundraising. However, current fiscal constraints, including storm relief and program funding challenges, may complicate efforts to secure necessary support.
Kirby acknowledges the potential hurdles but believes there is growing public support for preserving access to the river.
“I’m afraid it’s going to get worse with the way things are going and eventually lead to an ecological disaster,” Kirby said.
“We need more things to go out and do with our kids that aren’t going to kill us (financially). We need more affordable access. It’s definitely something that needs to be looked into.”
For outdoor hospitality professionals, the situation underscores both the growing demand for coastal camping and the role public-private partnerships could play in meeting this need.
Businesses might consider how proximity to or collaboration with future state park initiatives could benefit long-term growth and community engagement.