Leland’s next big park is not a distant master-plan sketch anymore. Loblolly Park—about 32 acres off Long Pine Drive, next to Brunswick Forest—is in active design, and the loudest debate is not about trails or playgrounds. It is about whether an 18-hole disc golf course should sit at the center of the park.
Port City Daily reported on Nov. 3, 2026 on a joint special meeting of Leland Town Council and the parks and recreation committee where more than a dozen residents spoke. Some called disc golf a community builder and economic draw; others said the sport’s demographics and the park’s location next to a large 55-and-older community argue for a more balanced mix of amenities. No vote was taken that night. For nearby homeowners and Leland-area buyers, the meeting is still useful: it shows how amenities fights actually sound before a park opens.
What Is Planned (and Still Flexible)
According to Port City Daily’s account of town remarks, design work began in June 2026. The concept includes a majority disc-golf footprint plus a playground, roughly 1.5 miles of walking trail, a fitness facility, and a cornhole area—details that remain subject to change. Summit Design and Engineering holds the design contract. Town spokesperson Jessica Jewell told the outlet that $10,000 in grants have been awarded so far and that Leland has wanted a permanent 18-hole course since a Founders Park plan gave way to other amenities years ago, leaving a temporary Village Road course in the meantime.
If built as described, supporters say Loblolly would bring Brunswick County its first full 18-hole disc golf course—something local players argued would invite visitors who might not otherwise stop in Leland.
Why Neighbors Are Split
Opponents at the meeting leaned on demographics and balance. Port City Daily quoted Brunswick Forest resident Kathy Short citing Professional Disc Golf Association membership data showing a heavily male, younger player base, and arguing that Leland’s older median-age profile needs more universal amenities. Other speakers asked for paved paths, nature-focused spaces, bocce, or a dog park instead of—or in addition to—a large course.
Supporters, including local club leaders and older players who currently drive to New Hanover County courses, described weekly play with teens through seventies and said a quality 18-hole layout could host tournaments with hotel and restaurant spillover. Town economic development remarks referenced visitor-spend ranges from a Bladen County tournament presentation—useful color, not a guarantee of Leland’s future receipts.
Safety and the Railroad Edge
Council members raised a practical concern that will matter to anyone living nearby: errant discs near roads and the Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point railroad. Summit’s landscape architect said trees and inward hole orientations are meant to keep throws on-site, with roughly 15 to 20 feet from property edges in the current thinking, and that buffer questions would get more technical review. Council member Veronica Carter pointed to MOTSU joint land-use screening concepts as a reason to be careful. Town staff told Port City Daily they do not expect major redesigns, but the buffer conversation is not finished.
What This Means If You Live Near Brunswick Forest or Magnolia Greens
- Amenity upside: A finished park with trails and play space can support resale storytelling for family and active-adult buyers alike—once the program is settled.
- Near-term uncertainty: Until council locks a preferred concept, marketing “disc golf destination next door” is premature. Stick to verified distance and town links.
- Construction patience: Design contracts and grant chasing come before shovels. Ask the town for the latest timeline rather than assuming a season.
- Noise and parking: Tournament days, if they happen, bring cars. Quiet weekdays may feel like a neighborhood park. Plan expectations either way.
FAQ
Did Leland approve the disc golf course?
Not at the special meeting covered on Nov. 3. Port City Daily reported discussion and public comment without a vote.
Where will Loblolly Park be?
Off Long Pine Drive, adjacent to Brunswick Forest, per the town and Port City Daily’s reporting.
Is this the same as older Loblolly Park stories?
Earlier coverage introduced the park in the town’s broader parks plan. The Nov. 3 story is specifically about the disc-golf-centered design debate after the Oct. 29 special meeting.
Should this change my offer price nearby?
Treat it as neighborhood context. Price with comps and condition first; park programming is a future amenity variable, not a closed sale.
Talk With a Local Team
Buying or selling near Brunswick Forest, Magnolia Greens, or elsewhere in Leland and want park, school, and traffic context in one conversation? Get in touch with Aspyre Collective—we will help you separate approved plans from proposals still in debate.
