"The kids have definitely found it," said Erin O'Neal of Ocracoke Health Center, when I called to ask her about the wonderful new cedar-mulched path from the school circle to the Back Road.
Running along the side of the Health Center's property that borders Ocracoke School's campus, the path offers a safe shortcut for walking and biking island kids – and others who might not have discovered it yet.
"Lots of kids cut through the back, so we've been thinking about doing this for a long time," Erin said. "The kids were biking right into the [Health Center] parking lot and it was a safety hazard."
The Health Center staff talked to principal Leslie Cole about it, and she agreed to let them funnel the bike traffic onto school property, at the "dog park." "We didn't have anything to do with it – it was all the health center, but it provides a safe cut through from the front of the school to the back side," Leslie said.
Ocracoke School students use it daily. "It's really handy," said a local 6th grader who happens to live in my house.
"I used it the first time I saw it!' said another 6th grader, who was visiting. "And it's pretty back there."
Signmaker Jason Daniels installed the path's markers a week ago, and eagle-eyed Ocracoke resident Amy Howard noticed them right away. She texted me a photo and inquiry ("When did this happen?") because the two of us had discussed the need for this exact pathway in this exact place a year or so ago. How often does it happen that you and a friend come up with an idea that other people should implement, and then they do without any prompting or pressure or interminable public input? We're not taking credit for the pathway, I'm just sayin': great minds think alike.
"I love it," Amy said. "It makes sense to have a public access there."
Tim Huff of Island Property Care (Ocracoke) and Jon Kelmer from Custom Tree Care (Hatteras) did the work of clearing the pathway of shrubs and undergrowth. "We saved what we could of the trees," said Erin. "A couple of small cedars were removed, and also a part of the big live oak that was leaning on the building."
Small wooden bollards and a wooden fence direct the kids away from the parking lot, and will also repel less welcome vehicles. "It's a walking and biking path, it's not for golf carts," Erin said. I'll repeat it: no golf carts.
Here's a bit of editorializing: Many of us remember the convenience of the Fig Tree Lane (a.k.a. the "duck path"). It was a well-known cut through from the Back Road to the corner of Howard Street and Highway 12 that crossed private property. Eventually, the owners closed the path (as I've heard) due to overuse and disrespect and a sense of entitlement on behalf of those who used it. I for one really miss the duck path, but it's a good lesson learned: don't abuse the privilege of the traipsing through people's yards. Tread carefully on the Health Center pathway. And thank Health Center staff members Cheryl Ballance and Erin O'Neal when you see them.
