Pittsboro Pedestrian Coalition

04/25/2026

Looking forward to learning more. This intersection is on a lot of people’s minds, and hopefully improved lighting will help.

With that said, the road is still too wide, and it’s hard for drivers to know pedestrians are waiting to cross — or they may think pedestrians are too far away to warrant stopping. Any improvement is better than none however so we welcome this news!

Hey—quick update on the crosswalk over by the ABC store and some of our favorite restaurants.

I know this has felt like it’s dragging on forever, and it’s been frustrating for everyone. I spoke with the Town Manager yesterday, and there is movement. The easement Duke needed from the County to install the lighting has officially been approved, and my understanding is that this is going to be fast-tracked from here.

He’s now working on locking in a firm installation date. As soon as I have that, I’ll share it right away.

Please share so we can spread the good news.

04/17/2026

This week, Disney Storyliving by Disney announced updated plans for their planned housing community as part of the Chatham Park NC.

As is true for any part of Chatham Park, once established it will be automatically annexed by the Town of Pittsboro, NC. Its residents will become our residents; their sidewalks, our sidewalks; their trails, our trails. Of course, there will be exceptions, but broadly speaking, this holds true.

We wanted to highlight some of the land that will be utilized for the Disney community.

Currently, there is a trail that begins near the Bynum Bridge and takes you through a beautiful landscape, eventually connecting to North Carolina State Parks and Recreation land. The trail is approximately six miles long and ends at Highway 64, near the kayak drop-off parking area.

We have included images of the farmland where the journey begins as well as others form the hike. This land appears to be actively managed, with open pasture and abundant wildflowers in the fall. From there, the trail moves into a relatively young pine forest, where the elevation begins to rise gradually.

This leads to Haven Creek—an absolutely stunning natural creek that flows shallow and wide, without the deep cuts and erosion seen in more tumultuous waterways in town, such as Roberson Creek.

After crossing the creek, the terrain changes noticeably. The elevation increases, and the landscape begins to feel entirely different—older growth forests with large deciduous trees and a fairly dense, and at times invasive, understory. Along this stretch, there are scenic elevated views of the Haw River, and the experience feels reminiscent of land that existed long before European settlement.

At this point, the trail connects with the State Park system, leaving visitors with a strong sense of awe.

We share this because pedestrian access is not only about getting from point A to point B. It is also about access to “third spaces”—places where people are allowed to simply exist. You do not have to pay, and you do not have to do anything beyond being present and enjoying the environment around you.

This serves as an open letter to Disney, Chatham Park investors, and the State of North Carolina to consider how all parties might collaborate on a plan that allows the State to absorb additional land. Such an effort could help preserve natural habitats, expand public access, and further establish both Disney and Chatham Park as long-term stewards of the natural environment.

We would be glad to walk these lands with you to demonstrate their value and the importance of preserving them.

03/09/2026

Shout out to Town of Pittsboro, NC Public Works for the sidewalk improvements along Hillsboro Street this week, including the most important crosswalk in town connecting to Chatham Mills near to Cafe Diem.

02/17/2026

Friends, please consider volunteering this Saturday to help with the early stages of removing invasive plants along the Robeson Creek Trail. A similar volunteer effort has been very successful in Chapel Hill along the Bolin Creek Greenway.
While not the only culprit, there is significant dense wisteria growth. Though beautiful in the spring, it slowly but surely kills the trees it climbs. Wisteria management takes time, but meaningful progress can be seen within one to two years—allowing trees to flourish again. Otherwise, this area risks becoming a tree graveyard, and we already have enough of those nearby.

Thanks to the Pittsboro Parks & Town of Pittsboro, NC for getting the ball moving on this important project!

UPDATE: Due to rain on 2/21, this has been rescheduled for Sunday, 3/1. Please register HERE for the new date: https://secure.rec1.com/NC/pittsboro-nc/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTQxODQ1NTA=

🌼 Calling All W**d Warriors! 🌼

Help us give Robeson Walk a little extra love! Join us for a relaxed volunteer morning as we remove invasive plant species and make room for native plants to thrive. It’s an easygoing way to enjoy the outdoors, lend a hand, and leave the park looking refreshed. Register HERE: https://shorturl.at/L9ZI0

No experience needed—just bring gloves, comfy clothes, and a positive attitude. We’ll take care of the rest and keep things fun and friendly.

📍 Robeson Walk Park
🗓 Saturday, February 21
⏰ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Come spend a couple of hours helping Robeson Walk grow happy and healthy 🌱💚

02/16/2026

Did you know there is an unofficial pathway from Chatham Forest / Fire Tower Road to Town of Pittsboro, NC greenways in The Vineyards neighborhood?

There has been discussion about making this a road, connecting Cynthia Lane to Edgefield Street. We are not certain what advantages that would provide to residents, other than increased traffic. We believe making this an official community pathway would be the better way forward.

The trail is regularly maintained and mowed, although we do not know by whom. Most of the land is owned by Chatham Park NC, so it would seem this could be an easy transition into an official pathway if adopted by the Town. A new bridge would certainly be needed and this is one area we would suggest extending the official greenway to Fire tower road with paved access making it handicap friendly and accessible to bicycles.

It could connect three vibrant communities and, in theory, would make it possible for someone to walk all the way from Chatham Parkway to Chatham Mills without having to use a single busy road.

01/22/2026

This intersection is one of the more contentious in Pittsboro—from a vehicle standpoint, but more importantly for pedestrians. It is nearly impossible to cross safely at almost any time day, despite being a natural and intuitive pedestrian crossing point.

At the most recent Town of Pittsboro Commissioners meeting, a presentation was given by North Carolina Department of Transportation regarding the Hillsboro Road expansion and the downtown Hillsboro Road updates from the Thompson/Hank Street intersection to the traffic circle. The conclusion was that no pedestrian upgrades or traffic control measures were needed at this intersection beyond minor sidewalk improvements.We believe this represents a missed opportunity to meaningfully improve both driver and pedestrian safety—particularly during morning and evening rush hours.

While traffic studies are valuable for identifying trends and validating data, lived experience and human intuition are often best at recognizing real-world hazards and diagnosing how people actually move through a space.A series of roundabouts would likely be the most effective long-term solution. Roundabouts slow traffic while keeping it moving, reduce stop-and-go congestion, and significantly improve safety for all users. Additionally, replacing the traffic signal at Salisbury Street and Hillsboro Street with a small roundabout could alleviate traffic backups onto East Street.

We recognize that such solutions are unlikely to be considered by NCDOT at this time. However, at a minimum, we strongly believe a four-way stop with clearly marked pedestrian crossings should be implemented.

This would:

Increase driver awareness

Slow traffic through the intersection

Make it safer and easier to turn onto or cross Hillsboro Street from Hank Street or Thompson Street

Reopen the original pedestrian-oriented street grid the town was designed around, rather than forcing pedestrians to walk a block out of their way simply to cross safely

This intersection deserves a solution that prioritizes people as much as vehicles. Town of Pittsboro, NC North Carolina Department of Transportation Chatham County, North Carolina

12/18/2025

Chatham County, North Carolina is gathering community input on transportation needs — including walking, cycling, and public transit. This is a great opportunity to share your experiences and insights on areas that matter to you, whether they’re already identified on the map or you add new needs based on your daily routes and pedestrian patterns.

The county has access to more funding than the Town of Pittsboro, NC for transportation projects, so the more detailed input they receive—especially specific to Pittsboro—the better positioned they are to prioritize improvements that actually serve our community!

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgis.bolton-menk.com%2Finputid%2F%3Fapp%3DChathamRoadImprovement%26fbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExREpSTTU1cnNBNmN2Nm9Uc3NydGMGYXBwX2lkDzUxNDc3MTU2OTIyODA2MQABHiakP646Q718PZkZ2eRCzl7agOrIkRMZ0b7iO9l_tdvHTeXecunkGI3SUSYY_aem_YLhIZsnUFYbtxlYsGuFSLw&h=AT0PDQ1CMyPCl4lBEiMJeJTWH9kGrFIQ6AIdnyWhiQNPkgUB4Jvh_r2vZl7voanCTZwlF8_nX6EwFXPaJbS1J273b4zMtFCDQC7jwLyMotrDkBDIsYVuryo2SqveTOFq89WmRqTOc6O07kA1cw2PmN2l

11/09/2025

A beautiful day to walk the Robeson Creek Greenway. The photo shows Roberson Creek curving south along the trail—one of the most picturesque bends, especially when the water is running high.

The current trail connects Sanford Road (just south of the downtown circle) to Small Street. Our friends at The Plant are working with the Town to extend the greenway with two additional segments, eventually linking directly to The Plant. Future access points are planned off Toomer Loop, the Chatham Fairgrounds, and—hopefully—a connector to the Potterstone Community.

These extensions would follow existing sewer easements and require minimal tree clearing, if any. This is a thoughtful, realistic expansion that would add real outdoor value for the entire community. Be sure to check out The Plant to keep up with the progress and to see how you can help them continue to advocate for this project.

11/04/2025

You have the right of way at crosswalks.

When you’re in a crosswalk, drivers must stop and let you cross - period. You are not obligated to run, skip, or hurry beyond a normal pace for you. Make eye contact when you can, offer a friendly wave if you feel obliged, and stay predictable. It’s your space until you’re safely across. Even at intersections without marked crosswalks, drivers are still required to yield when you’re crossing. Paint or no paint - pedestrians have the right of way.

Be seen. Be vocal. Be a pedestrian advocate.
Follow Pittsboro Pedestrian Coalition and tag to share unsafe spots or favorite walking routes around town.

10/08/2025

Town Water Fountain Update

Fall is here, and the Town will soon be shutting down all public water fountains for the winter to prevent freezing. With that in mind, we wanted to test the four town fountains to see which were operational and which weren’t. We will check back in the Spring to continue monitoring.

Public water is an often-unappreciated community asset. Pittsboro has worked hard to improve its image regarding water quality, and those efforts have paid off — the town now has some of the cleanest water in the state. Our walkers, runners, and park guests should have reliable access to drinking water, particularly during the hot summer months. A simple way to demonstrate reliability as a community is to ensure that these fountains are maintained and operational. When they’re not, it communicates a lack of follow-through.

Mary Holmes Barber Park – Both the water fountains and the spray feature are offline and have been all summer (if not longer — possibly two years). According to Parks & Rec, there is piping that needs repair. However, one might think this could have been addressed alongside the installation of the new public restrooms.

Knight Farm Park – The fountains are currently on, which is great to see after being off for most of the summer.

McClenahan Street Park – The fountains are on and have been the most reliable all year. Given how many tennis, pickleball, basketball, and skate visitors this park receives, that’s certainly welcome news.

Kiwanis Park – The fountains are off, and it’s unclear when they were last operational. It may be due to similar pipe issues as at Mary Holmes Park. This park sees many toddlers and young families, and as Pittsboro’s only consistently shady park, ensuring reliable water access here would be especially valuable — both as a public good and as a small civic lesson for the next generation.

Other sources of public drinking water include the CCCC Library and Chatham Mills (though that is private). Pittsboro Presbyterian Church has also been providing iced water on exceptionally hot days — a simple yet meaningful community gesture.

Are there other public fountains we’re missing?