This joint venture between the New Hanover Board of Education and the New Hanover County Commissioners created an educational campus within a county park setting, with facilities designed for both student and community use. The campus features a 1,600-student high school, a 1,000-student middle school, a 600-student elementary school, and a 1,000-seat auditorium.

The “schools in a park” concept provides extensive recreational facilities for the campus and for the wider community. The campus is a resource for the southern part of the county, offering community access to the performing arts auditorium, gymnasiums, athletic fields, and meeting spaces. The buildings also serve as an emergency shelter and staging area during hurricanes.