Outer Banks Forever launches new projects to protect and enhance Outer Banks’ National Parks

Outer Banks Forever, the local nonprofit partner of the three national parks of the Outer Banks – Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial – is pleased to announce its new slate of projects and programs to protect and enhance these special places.

“Our national parks are an important part of our OBX community. We are proud to help our parks become more resilient and continue to meet the ever-changing needs of both locals and visitors.” Says Jessica Green, Director of Outer Banks Forever.

The following projects were identified as priorities by the National Park Service and Outer Banks Forever’s Advisory Board. Each project aims to enhance the park experience for locals and visitors, expand education and access opportunities, and provide the margin of excellence we’ve come to expect from our national parks.

Each project will be implemented as funds are raised through donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants. If you would like to help make these projects possible in your parks, please visit www.obxforever.org/impact to learn more.

Current Projects:

• Views From Your Park: Webcam Installation —In partnership with the Outer Banks Visitor’s Bureau and Surfline, this project will bring our parks’ amazing views right into your home by installing webcams on the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Waterside Theater at Fort Raleigh, and Wright Brothers Memorial.
• Adopt A Nest– One of the most awe-inspiring reasons we all love Cape Hatteras National Seashore is that its pristine beaches are a perfect home for our favorite sea turtle friends. Coming soon, you can help protect and enhance this special place by symbolically adopting a sea turtle nest that is being tracked by park staff.
• Artist in Residence – For years artists from around the world have found inspiration in our OBX national parks.This new program will support local artists through two 4-week residencies each year in the off season. Artists will produce new works inspired by the parks, as well as engage locals and visitor through public demonstrations and talks.
• Aviation Trail Through Time – From the first flight to our current pursuit of space exploration, this project will install a series of new educational displays at Wright Brothers National Memorial along the walkway from the First Flight Boulder to the base of Big Kill Devil Hill that tell the story of the progress we’ve made in aviation since two brothers took flight on the sandy dunes of Kitty Hawk.
• Kayak Launch at Oregon Inlet –To continue to promote access and responsible recreation in our parks, this project will help build an ADA accessible kayak launch at the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. The kayak launch will provide a safe way for non-motorized water sport enthusiasts of all abilities to access and experience the sound.
• Expanding Digital Learning at Wright Brothers National Memorial – This project will help expand our park’s digital learning program through the purchase of equipment and technology resources that will allow the park to create a new online video series, implement live in-classroom virtual field trips, and build new digital partnerships with other aviation focused parks around the country.
• Pathways to Your National Parks –Whether you enjoy walking, running, or cycling, this multi-year project will help build paved multi-use paths in all three parks that will create new and safer ways to explore these special places. Plans for these new paths are still in development. Phase 1 of the project will be a multi-use path in Buxton at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse – details to be announced this fall.

In addition to these new projects, Outer Banks Forever will continue its popular Adopt a Pony program, which supports the care of the ponies on Ocracoke Island, as well as its involvement in the Love the Beach, Respect the Ocean campaign in conjunction with the National Park Service, Dare County and local EMS and lifesaving services.

For more information about how you can help protect your OBX national parks and support these projects, please visit www.OBXforever.org or contact Jessica Green at (252) 423-4545 or JessicaGreen@obxforever.org.