On a spring evening, every seat in Wrightsville Beach’s town hall was filled with people in blue shirts. Even standing room was limited.

Attendees carried handmade signs that read “Community over cash” and “Nature shouldn’t come with a meter.” Others were more provocative: “We know this isn’t really about parking.”

The group had gathered to present the aldermen with a petition advocating for free parking after 5 p.m. on weekdays. The debate highlights a growing conflict over access to coastal and town resources.

Tensions Swell Over the Price of Parking in Wrightsville Beach

The popular, easy-to-reach beach town says charging for parking pays for services that benefit beach-goers. Surfers and other locals say it’s intensifying the region’s class divide.

“Wrightsville Beach is turning into a place where they don’t want regular people,” said local engineer and surfer Thaddeus Brown. “My buddies and I used to joke: You can’t go to the beach if you’re poor no more.”

Thanks for reading The Dive, a weekly newsletter written by Wilmington editor Johanna F. Still and WHQR’s Benjamin Schachtman. Reach us with tips or ideas at wilmington@theassemblync.com.

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