Freeman Park - All Campsites Booked Memorial Day Weekend

News Release from the Town of Carolina Beach:

CAROLINA BEACH, NC -Freeman Park campsites SOLD OUT May 22, 2015-May 24, 2015

The online reservation system for overnight camping in Freeman Park is working great-the system is easy to use and is being utilized daily by campers.  The upcoming Memorial Day Weekend has already sold out all 119 campsites between May 22^nd-May 24^th! 

We advise anyone planning an overnight camping trip to Freeman Park to check the online reservation website, www.freeman.spplusparking.com, and verify that spots are available.  There's also information about site access, amenities, and updated rules and regulations.

Any questions about camping in Freeman Park should be directed to SP Plus Parking at

910-458-4614.

North End Camping - Freeman Park Camp Permits Available Online

Freeman Park, or the "North End", is a beautiful stretch of beach where it's possible to drive your 4 wheeled vehicle right onto the sand to enjoy a day of fun in the sun, or even camp overnight. There's nothing quite like watching the moon rise over the ocean at the end of a day filled with swimming, surfing, fishing, searching for shells, and building sand castles...and then falling asleep to the sound of the waves crashing.

In order to keep this special place a safe and enjoyable destination for all visitors, that will be here long into the future there are some changes being put into place for the 2015 season.

Freeman Park Camping

One of these changes is that permits are now required for overnight camping from April 1 - September 30. These permits enable you to reserve a designated campsite, for a fee of $10 per night. Campers must also have a Freeman Park Access Pass in order to enter the park, and camping reservations cannot exceed a 14 day stay.

Permits will be available on a first come first serve basis and are limited to the 118 available campsites. If you want to camp on a summer weekend when the North End tends to be busy it's recommended that you reserve your site in advance.

Freeman Park Access Passes

The rate structure for North End passes has also changed for this year.

Daily Passes - $30.00
Daily Holiday Passes - $50.00
(This higher rate is in effect when Freeman Park traditionally sees the greatest number of visitors: Easter Weekend 4/3 - 4/6, Memorial Day Weekend 5/22 - 5/25, Fourth of July Weekend 7/3 - 7/6, and Labor Day Weekend 9/4 - 9/7.)
Annual Permit - $150.00

Passes can be purchase online or at the following locations:

Island True Value Tackle & Hardware - 801 N Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach 910-458-3049
Scotchman (Canal Drive Location) - 354 Canal Dr, Carolina Beach
Town of Carolina Beach Parking Office - 1204 N Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach 910-458-4614
Carolina Beach Town Hall, Billing Dept - 1121 N Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach 910-458-2999


Camping Permits, Access Passes, and detailed information available here: http://freeman.spplusparking.com/

Mayor's Update - Carolina Beach, NC

With record breaking crowds on our island and at Freeman Park this past Memorial Day weekend, I thought it might be good to share what we have done this year to improve Freeman Park. Over the past several months various town departments have been working on a list of improvements to encourage a family friendly atmosphere at the park. These changes are highlighted below:

Freeman Park Command Center

This facility will allow us to double the enforcement staff at the park providing a more robust police presence and better ability to identify and resolve issues before they become large problems. Burning pits, trash, glass and bottles and other concerns will be addressed in a polite yet firm manner to improve the overall experience.

Along with increased police presence and the focus on rules and regulations, the police department will also be establishing a Freeman Park Command Center on the beach in the #6 section. The command trailer will give the police department a dedicated location where assigned staff can take requests and complaints from visitors, process violations and citations, administer customer service functions and provide a secure location to address individual issues. We expect that between the increased staff and the “Base Camp” presence of the Command Center, the level of compliance will improve this season.

Hatteras Ramp

A new Hatteras Ramp has been installed to improve the traffic flow between the dunes. We will likely be seeking additional CAMA approval to place rip-rap rock at the end of the ramp to extend it out to a wider section of the beach, but we do not anticipate the additional approval during this season.

Pass and Parking Signage

Our Parking Contractor has improved the daily and weekly pass process by making the passes stand out, by printing them on blue paper with graphics and larger text. This change will make it easier to identify and inspect the passes and limit the ability to forge passes. Along with the new pass design will improve signage at the entrance explaining the fees, rules and process for obtaining a pass. We anticipate that this will improve the enforcement of the daily and weekly passes along with the visual aspects of the entrance.

Trash & Fire Debris Container

We have doubled the concrete fire debris containers, added more trash containers and increased pickups.
If you are headed to Freeman Park, please be safe and enjoy your experience! Keep in mind the holiday weekend are the busiest, so avoid those weekends if crowds are a concern!

Dan Wilcox, Mayor of Carolina Beach

Town of Carolina Beach Changes Rate Structure for Freeman Park Passes

At the November 12, 2013 Council Meeting, Town Council implemented a rate change for Freeman Park. The season pass will remain at $100. However, a discounted seasonal pass will now cost $60 from the period of December 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013. Two and three day passes will no longer be available. A seven day pass will cost $50 and the daily pass remain at $20.

The discounted pass will not be available for purchase online, but can be purchased at Town Hall, Parks and Recreation Center, Island Tackle and Hardware, Canal Drive Scotchman, and Brew Thru.

Photo by Alicia Devereaux

FREEMAN PARK TO BE CLOSED DUE TO HIGH SURF - 2:00 PM, Saturday, October 27th

CAROLINA BEACH, NC – Due to high surf anticipated by Hurricane Sandy, the Town of Carolina Beach will close Freeman Park to visitors and campers on Saturday, October 27 at 2pm. The park will reopen on Monday, October 29th by 9am or sooner if weather permits.

Freeman Park is very susceptible to high tides.  During extreme tides, such as anticipated, the ocean reaches the dunes leaving little if any area for safe passage or camping.

2012 Freeman Park (North End) Passes Available

Freeman Park - "The North End"

The cost of the Freeman Park season permit is $60.00 from January 1 to March 31. After March 31, the cost of the annual permit for access to the North End of Carolina Beach is $100. Permits are available at Island Tackle & Hardware, Parks & Recreation Dept., Water/Sewer Dept., CB Police, Parking Office, Walgreen’s, Brew-Thru, Canal Dr, Scotch-man.

For more information go to www.carolinabeach.org/site_new/pages/freeman_park.html or http://pleasureislandnc.org/freemanpark.asp.