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It's an ambitious goal, with an aggressive timeline.

In late March, the announced plans to purchase the popular and much-loved southern tip of Topsail Island, colloquially known as "The Point," that is one of the largest undeveloped private tracts left along the state's oceanfront.

The coastal conservation group admits the to raise $8 million to purchase the roughly 150 acres by March 2025 is "ambitious" and represents a "daunting challenge."

They also made it clear that even though the nonprofit intends to seek financial help from government and private sources, much of the heavy financial lifting would have to come from community support and donations.

Nearly six months into the push, how are things going?

"We've been overwhelmed and amazed by the level of support in the community," said , the land trust's executive director, noting the group has received financial support from more than 400 individuals and has several federal and state grants pending.

If successful, the land trust intends to turn over The Point to theÌýÌýto be managed as a reserve site. The agency already oversees several public areas in Southeastern North Carolina, including Masonboro Island, Bald Head Woods, and Bird Island near Sunset Beach.

While private property, "The Point" for decades has been viewed as a quasi-public asset by residents and visitors to Topsail Beach. It's mix of beach, dunes and wetlands and scrub forest also has served as vital habitat for a host of coastal flora and fauna, including nesting sea turtles and shorebirds.

Many residents and environmentalists have questioned the viability of developing the sandy spit that lies along Topsail Inlet and sits just north of Lea-Hutaff Island. They note the property is in a highly exposed location near an inlet and is susceptible to heavy wave action and erosion from hurricanes and nor'easters, and thus a large chunk of it fall under the federal Coastal Barrier Resources Act, commonly known as a CBRA zone. The purpose of CBRA is toÌýÌýby prohibiting the expenditure of federal dollarsÌýonÌýprojectsÌýin hazardous coastal areas.ÌýThat includes money for infrastructure and road projects andÌýparticipation in theÌýNational Flood Insurance Program or federally funded beach-nourishment projects.

Still, as private property, the area always has sat under the shadow of being developed at some point − especially as coastal property prices have surged.

The site's uncertain future, which has been percolating for decades, became frontpage news a couple years ago when Laura and Todd Olson, founder of the software companyÌý, announced plans to purchase the site and build a family compound consisting of several structures − although 80% of the site would have remained protected and undeveloped.

The community reaction was swift and largely negative, eventually prompting the Olsons to pull their rezoning request in late November 2023. But the Raleigh couple's exit did little more than kick the fate of "The Point" down the road.

WHAT'S NEXT?With rezoning request pulled, what does the future hold for 'The Point' in Topsail Beach?

'An honor to be part of'

Then the land trust stepped up.

Harrison said the group's fundraising goal "is certainly in the neighborhood of $8 million."

That figure includes not only the selling price, but also interest and legal costs associated with taking out a loan to cover the purchase price and other housekeeping expenses, since any loans or grants from federal or state partners won't likely come in until mid- to late 2025.

According to 2023 Pender County tax records, the property has an assessed tax value of $2.96 million.

The biggest single chunk of money the land trust has applied for is a $3 million grant from the , formerly known as the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, which the land trust should find out about next month.

Some federal grants also are making their way through the review process.

But Harrison said it is the local support for the "The Point's" protection that's really opened his eyes.

"I personally have never been involved in something like this, and those that have been here longer than me say they've never seen this kind of support before," he said. "It's really been an honor to be part of."

A local group, also continues to promote the conservation effort and highlight local fundraising events and activities.

All in all, Harrison said he has "every reason to believe" the land trust will meet its private fundraising goal, and potentially faster than it first thought was viable.

Local governments also are stepping up, with many passing resolutions in support of the land trust's efforts and Topsail Beach agreeing to spend nearly $800,000 to purchase a parking lot − which they hope to turn into an improved beach access area to access "The Point" − and roughly an acre of land for future infrastructure improvements.

Harrison said with strong support on many levels, he's confident that the pristine coastal site could soon fall under public protection − although he cautioned there are still plenty of hurdles to be overcome.

"There probably are still some skeptics, but there are no opponents out there which is nice in this day and age," he said with a chuckle.

Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at GMcGrath@Gannett.com or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from the Green South Foundation and the Prentice Foundation. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work.Ìý