Pittsboro Pedestrian Coalition

11/04/2026

After some backlash over the initial design, The Town of Pittsboro has a survey out to help them decide which facade for the new Town Hall. We are partial to the facade that is inspired by the Pittsboro Community House, also on Thompson Street (arguably the most charming structure in town next to the historic courthouse). Shoutout to the town for allowing residents to voice their opinions on the matter. Though the main design is essentially the same, having a brick, stone or both facade will give the structure much more warmth and a wink to our historical feel. Now if we can also source local stone, as the Community House has as well, that would really be something!

This post isn’t directly pedestrian oriented but we have spoken much about the walkability of Salisbury Street. This will connect with Thompsons sidewalk and will be a hub for the community. Hopefully the property west of the property that is owned by the Southern Railway can be transformed into a park space of some sort.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PH28M35

10/02/2026

A few days ago, we explored the southern portion of Chatham Parkway, which is currently under construction and will connect to Moncure-Pittsboro Road. The cooler weather made for a nice experience, and the hills are more forgiving than those in the northern sections.

It’s still unclear to us why the portion between Old 64 and the new 64 bypass doesn’t have greenways when all the other segments do. Either way, it was interesting to see the landscape of an area that hasn’t been accessible to the public.

We were keen to see what the bridge over Roberson Creek looked like (second picture). It appears to be a substantial structure that will hopefully allow the creek to flow unimpeded. The tree canopy along its banks is still strong, so hopefully a generous buffer will remain in place.

Thus far, a lack of shade seems to be a recurring problem with the new parkways. This section runs mainly north to south, which may help with morning and evening shade where trees remain alongside the paths. We would like to think Chatham Park NC has trees planned along both paths.

Another thought is that the proposed Roberson Creek Greenway extension toward The Plant could eventually connect to this greenway, linking the Town of Pittsboro, NC greenway network with Chatham Park’s system. Look at the third image to see how close the trail comes to The Plant and the future Pittsboro park nearby.

These are just musings, but ambitious goals can sometimes lead to spectacular outcomes.

10/01/2026

Wise advise from Town of Pittsboro, NC

🎶 Come Together...right now...at the crosswalk 🎶

All You Need Is Love...and to use the crosswalks, Pittsboro!

With a little help from our friends, drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians can all help keep our streets safe by looking out for one another.

Remember these pedestrian safety tips for your next stroll:
• Use marked crosswalks whenever possible.
• Look left, right, then left again before crossing.
• Obey pedestrian signals and traffic signs.
• Put phones away and stay alert while crossing.
• Wear bright or reflective clothing when walking at night.

Let’s Come Together and look out for one another.

Cross Together! Use the Crosswalks. 🚶‍♂️🚶🏾🚶‍♀️🚶🏿‍♀️

09/19/2026

Pedestrians are naturally observant, and anyone who has walked along Salisbury Street has likely noticed the concrete obelisks marking many of its intersections. The most obvious one stands near the crosswalk at the corner of Hillsboro and Salisbury Streets.

Although we do not yet know their full history, similar street markers can be found in Durham and have been dated to around the 1930s. Likely it was just an affordable and durable street sign option at the time. These obelisks extend the entire length of Salisbury Street, giving it a distinctive character that deserves to be recognized and preserved.

Salisbury Street is one of the Town of Pittsboro, NCs original streets. Laid out sometime between the late 1780s and 1800, it predates most established towns in North Carolina, much less roads. Over the centuries, this historic corridor has witnessed much of Pittsboro’s story. It is home to St. Bartholomew’s, one of North Carolina’s oldest Episcopal churches, and the Freeman House, associated with the first free African American to own land in Pittsboro. It also lies just a short distance from Brown Town, one of Pittsboro’s historic African American communities.

Despite lacking sidewalks, Salisbury Street remains one of the town’s most frequently used pedestrian routes. It connects J.A. Farrell Street in the east—the future home of Pittsboro’s new Town Hall—to the Chatham Community Library and Central Carolina Community College campus on the western side of historic Pittsboro. It is a pivotal artery within the town. Because Salisbury Street is locally controlled rather than maintained by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Pittsboro has a meaningful opportunity to shape its future.

The Pittsboro Pedestrian Coalition believes these concrete obelisks, five in all, bring a unique sense of history and charm to the streetscape. We encourage the Town of Pittsboro to research and share their historical significance with the public, preserve the existing markers, and consider extending this distinctive feature to all of the street crossings of Salisbury street and possibly to other parts of Pittsboro’s historic street grid.

As rapid growth continues to reshape Pittsboro, elements of the town’s identity risk becoming obscured. Recognizing and preserving small but tangible connections to our past is an important way to tell Pittsboro’s story—and to carry that story into the future.

08/28/2026

Two days ago, we reached out to Town of Pittsboro, NC Town Hall about communication lines hanging low above—and in some places onto—the sidewalk at the corner of Hillsboro Street & Midway. They had been like this since the beginning of summer, so it seemed likely they had simply been forgotten.

Today, a crew was on hand to tidy up the tangled mess, making the sidewalk more accessible for everyone and a whole lot nicer to look at.

We share this to applaud the Town for responding so quickly, but also as a reminder to pedestrians and residents: don’t assume things are just supposed to be a certain way—or that they’ll automatically be corrected.

Things get overlooked. Utility crews can leave behind work that needs another look. Problems sometimes simply need to be brought to someone’s attention, and there’s nothing wrong with speaking up when you notice them.

Sometimes it’s the little things—the things you notice on an everyday walk—that can make a subtle but meaningful difference in how our town looks, feels, and functions.

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.