The Avon Property Owners Association (APOA) has launched a massive project to replace all 22 beach boardwalks in Avon, with three new boardwalks already completed as of April 2025.
The boardwalks are all found at the end of Avon’s oceanside roads, and collectively, they provide easy, public access to the adjacent shoreline.
“The boardwalks were originally installed back in the 1980s, and over the years, APOA has been maintaining these boardwalks,” said APOA Director George Hockenbury. “But it has come to the point where they need to be replaced. A lot of the support posts and railings are beginning to deteriorate, and the first three we [completed] were in especially bad shape.”
The three new boardwalks are located at the end of Gulls Cry Road, Wahoo Circle, and Antillas Road, and these boardwalks were placed at the top of the priority list due to both the amount of foot traffic in the area and their degraded conditions.
APOA received a grant to fund the first phase of the project from the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, which required a 25% match of funds from the nonprofit organization, and contractor Bert Rivera officially began the project in February 2025.
“The first three boardwalks were completed last week,” said Hockenbury. “We’re going to put in an application for another Tourism Impact Grant from the Visitors Bureau this fall, once we identify the ones that are in the most need of replacing. and we hope to get at least two or three done within the next year.”
“It’s about $20,000 for each one, so it’s going to be a big undertaking.”
To replace all 22 boardwalks, the total cost is estimated to be around $450,000 to $500,000. Hockenbury said that the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, and particularly Director of Administration Diane Bognich, has been a huge help in the venture, but donations and community support are continually needed to keep the project going.
“This is going to take several years to get done, but the more support we get in donations, the quicker we can get them replaced,” said Hockenbury.
The APOA oversees several annual initiatives to maintain Avon’s reputation as an enticing place to visit. Every summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the organization launches a beach trash can program, which stations 75 trash cans along the shoreline to keep the beach clean, and the APOA is also the sponsor of the annual 4th of July fireworks display off the Avon Pier.
With nearly two dozen boardwalks slated to be replaced, however, this recent venture may be the APOA’s most ambitious project yet.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s rewarding to see the excitement of our members who are calling and saying how good they look,” said Hockenbury.
The new boardwalks are both sturdier and wider, with larger posts supporting the structure, and a width of four feet versus the original three feet to make them easier to navigate with beach carts, chairs, and other beach-day gear.
APOA leaders are hoping that the excitement over the ‘phase one’ completion of the village-wide project continues to spread, so that the organization will attract more members and more donations before the start of phase two.
“It’s a big project, but it’s worth it when we’re successful,” said Hockenbury. “It will make Avon a better place for both homeowners and our visitors, so it’s definitely worth the effort.”
How to support the beach boardwalk replacement project
- Individuals and businesses can make online donations at https://www.avonpoa.org/donate.
- Donations can also be made via checks to the following address: APOA, P.O. Box 9, Avon, NC 27915. Checks can be made out to APOA.
- For more information about becoming a member of the Avon Property Owners Association, visit https://www.avonpoa.org/.
