Hatteras Island got its first look at the proposed Frisco-Buxton pathway at a 2019 open house, which provided detailed plans of a concrete pathway for pedestrians and cyclists. The pathway runs parallel to N.C. Highway 12, and will eventually extend from the Valero Gas Station in Buxton to the Frisco Bathhouse beach access south of Frisco Village’s borders.
Currently, Buxton and Frisco are the only two villages on Hatteras Island that do not have a village-wide pathway, and stakeholders are hoping to slowly and steadily fill in this gap within the next several years.
The pathway project is spearheaded by the Frisco-Buxton Pathway Committee and the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway Committee for Dare County, which was instrumental in creating similar pathways in the island’s five other villages: Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, and Hatteras.
“We’re excited to work with the Frisco-Buxton Pathway Committee and the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway Committee, but first we need a group of people who can represent the BCA on this important project,” said BCA Secretary Wendi Munden.
With this long-term goal in mind, the BCA is seeking volunteers who can lead or assist with the following:
- Grant writing
- Fundraising and community outreach
- Assisting with paperwork and permitting
- Serving on a dedicated subcommittee to support the sidewalk project
Though there’s a long way to go, the owners of the Frisco Woods Campground accomplished an initial milestone by funding an initial .27-mile stretch of sidewalk in late 2023. It’s a short stretch of paved pathway, but it bypasses a number of popular destinations, including the Frisco Woods Campground, Tavern on 12, Hatteras Sno-Balls, and the Pamlico Deli.
The BCA Board is hoping that Buxton residents and longtime visitors will step up and volunteer, so that there can be a united focus on the northern portion of the miles-long pathway, allowing all Frisco and Buxton pathway advocates to effectively meet in the middle.
“This is a big endeavor, and we’re looking for community-minded individuals who are ready to roll up their sleeves and help bring this vision to life,” said Munden.
Interested volunteers and contributors can reach out to the BCA for more information via the organization’s website or Facebook page, and can also email the BCA directly at buxtoncivic@gmail.com to learn more.
