The community is invited to learn more about Marshall and Gussie Collins and the scenic walkway in Manteo named after the African American couple who donated a significant portion of their 300-acre farm to Dare County.
The Dare County Trails Committee is hosting a ceremony at 3 p.m. Friday, April 5, at the Virginia S. Tillett Community Center in Manteo. There is no charge for admission to the event, which will include an overview of the history of the Collinses, who donated the land where the Dare County Administration Building and Dare County Justice Center are now.
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Keynote speakers include Deborah Jefferson, a granddaughter of the Collinses, and Sharon Warner, a great-granddaughter of the couple.
Light refreshments, including coffee, tea, cookies and pastries, will be served during the event. Following the ceremony attendees are invited to enjoy a stroll along the scenic trail.
The 2-mile walkway, formally established in November 2017, connects Dare County Governmental Center in Manteo to the Coastal Studies Institute in Skyco. The trail meanders through picturesque woodlands and along the marsh that borders the Croatan Sound.
The Dare County Trails Committee, a subcommittee of the Dare County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, was established in 2019. Its mission is to spread awareness about existing and possible future trails and walkways in Dare County.
