Beach Access and Park Issues

June 17, 2010

Stand in the Sand III to raise funds for access will be June 25

The Outer Banks Preservation Association, a group that advocates reasonable access for everyone on the beaches of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, will have its third annual Stand in the Sand fundraiser on Friday, June 25, from noon until 8 p.m. at the Fessenden Center in Buxton.

Stand in the Sand is one of the OBPA’s largest fundraisers of the year, and it’s especially important this year, says OBPA board member Anne Bowers.

Bowers notes that the public comment on the Park Service Draft Environmental Impact Statement on off-road vehicle access to the seashore is over. The Park Service is in the process of formulating a Final Environmental Impact Statement and proposed regulations that will have an impact on both ORV and pedestrian access to the seashore for years to come.

“Our next goal,” she says, “is building the war chest. Legal challenges (to the final rule) will be our next big hurdle.”

Stand in the Sand III, organized this year by Greg and Ginger Wojciechowski, will offer all that the last two events have – and then some.

There will be the home-cooked pork and chicken barbecue with the usual sides, such as macaroni and cheese, green beans, cole slaw, and cornbread. This year most of the food is again being donated by Conner’s Supermarket in Buxton, and it will be prepared and served by the staff at The Inn on Pamlico Sound.

In addition, this year there will be a fish fry. Tilman Gray of Avon Seafood will donate and fry the fish.

The cost of the meal is a $10 donation per person.

An array of homemade desserts will also be available for an extra charge – to eat in or take home.

There will be booths sponsored by access groups selling T-shirts, bumper stickers, and other items. There will also be local artists and crafts people selling their work.

There will be games for youngsters – or the young at heart – and the Kitty Hawk Kites big rock climbing wall will be back. Climb the wall and make a donation to OBPA.

There will also be a silent auction and cotton candy and snow cones.

Billed as a “family event,” the festivities will start at noon and continue until 8 p.m. or until the food runs out, which it has in past years.

Carol Dillon has again agreed to provide overflow parking on the land she owns across the highway from her Outer Banks Motel. The lot is adjacent to Island Perks restaurant.

OBPA board members hope that whether you live on the islands or are just visiting, you will come out to “celebrate freedom.”

Volunteers are always needed. If you want to volunteer for any one of a variety of jobs, contact Ginger at ginger3168@live.com .

If you can't attend the fundraiser but want to make a donation online or by mail, you can go to the OBPA website at www.obpa.org. You can also join OBPA by going to the website.

All the money that the OBPA raises is used to finance the legal challenges for maintaining reasonable beach access for everyone.