274 replies to this topic

[archiham04]

OE-305, on Feb 15 2005, 01:38 AM, said:

I'm sure the greenway along Little Sugar Creek will be nice once completed, but remember that that stream was named on of NC's most polluted steams in the late 90's (and I doubt things have changed since then).  Therefore I would see the creation of a mini Riverwalk as a BAD idea.  Has anybody ever witnessed this stream during flood stage in front of CMC?  You don't want to know whats in that water.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I spend a lot of time on the new part of the greenway off Westfield Rd (behind Park Road Shopping Center) and it is probalby one of my favorite parks in the city... the detention ponds looked kind of strange at first, but they are full of water plants rocks and fish now.  The stream has been naturalized and its meanders with huge boulders and man made shoals.  All kinds of ducks and other birds hang out there... the other day I saw an grey egret-looking bird perched in the middle of the creek.

[dubone]

Mecklenburg county has commitments to make all streams and lakes in the county swimmable by a certain date.  The greenway is part of the plan by naturalizing as much of it as possible, and cleaning up the sources of pollution.  Over time, the streams will become less polluted.  

This is a chicken and egg problem.  No one wants to walk along the stream because it is polluted, and no one cares about cleaning up the stream because no one goes near it.  I believe the county is tackling both simultaneously, by building the human amenities along the stream, and working to clean up the stream from pollution.  They are not there yet, but it won't take long.


Rubberized gravel or sidewalk tiles is a great idea.  Maybe they could strike a deal with continental tire for recycled rubber.  You could make a pitch the pitch to the county:  The county could have a part of the greenway sponsored by Continental Tire, Continental Tire could also have the opportunity to sponsor walks or races along the greenway for even more community goodwill, old tires could be diverted away from the landfill through the recycling program, health dollars could be saved by making it more comfortable to run, and by eliminating joint problems that result from running on hard surfaces.  Sounds like a pitch waiting to be made. Go for it .

[archiham04]

[COLOR=blue]

dubone, on Feb 15 2005, 02:01 PM, said:

Mecklenburg county has commitments to make all streams and lakes in the county swimmable by a certain date.  The greenway is part of the plan by naturalizing as much of it as possible, and cleaning up the sources of pollution.  Over time, the streams will become less polluted. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

the big ugly metal green boxes that they installed around the greenway are water quality monitors.  They monitor the water before it enters the creek.  That means that they are going to be able to check the nitrogen/chemical content in the runoff from the over watered, over fertilized lawns in Myers Park.  This is great news because nitrogen and chemicals from lawn fertilzer/pesticides has often been suspected of being a huge "non point-source" polluter that is hard to monitor and hold people accountable for...

[eastsider]

I think the greenway will be a great development tool for the opposite side of kings drive in a few years. Though I don't think it will be much of a tourist draw it could make a nice pedestian area for locals. Maybe they could have some cross promotions for the outdoor enthusiast at the future whitewater center.

[atlrvr]

Here is something that was in the online Observer today.....it is a proposal to add up to 30 statues to the Little Sugar Creek Greenway from CPCC down to Morehead.  The theme would be a history of Charlotte and include subjects from different timeperiods......Hugh McColl, DA Tompkins, someone name Captain James Jack etc.......

The focus seems to be on the Captain Jack fellow and he is proposed to be in the island of the future round-a-bout at Elizabeth and Kings.  

I like this idea, since one of my criticisms of Charlotte is the lack of tangible public art......these pieces are supposed to be larger than life and I think something of that scale would draw people to linger and admire them along the greenway.  I think that 30 pieces may be too many, and maybe 10 of the most significant people would be more appropriate, but I certainly support this, especially since it would be funded from private donations and money already earmarked for public art on the greenway.

Here is the link to the article.
EDIT - appatone has the correct link in his post.

Edited by atlrvr, 06 March 2005 - 12:23 AM.

[appatone]

Umm.. I think that link's wrong altrvr.  You guys can try this link to the observer article Statues could bring area's history to life

I do like the idea of using public art to boost awareness of local history but I have to be honest when I say that 30 brass statues along the greenway won't make much of an impact.  I doubt people will really ever notice these.  However, I really liked the idea of putting the Capt. James Jack on horseback statue in the middle of a proposed traffic circle there on Elizabeth.  I believe that one will be noticed however I doubt anyone will actually bother to find out who the mystery man on horseback is or what his contribution was to local history.  They will definitely know he's there though.  Personally, I would maybe like to see him in the center of a big round fountain and the exterior of the fountain can have a large engraving, possibly of his name or the 1775 date for which he his associated with.  Let's face it, despite what people in this forum may do (I for one do pay attention to statues and where they are located) 97% of people probably won't pay attention to these statues unless something about them or around them is truly designed to grab people's attention.

Edited by appatone, 06 March 2005 - 12:22 AM.

[UptownJ]

I think this is a great idea... What a great way to show off our history. I for one would walk/jog the trail and admire the statues. I hope it gets done.

I think the uptown portion of the greenway will get alot of traffic and I am sure that once it is done... Residential will follow it all the way around uptown.

I like this project

[eastsider]

I like the idea. I've always wondered why there are so few statues in this city.

[dubone]

eastsider, on Mar 7 2005, 06:52 PM, said:

I like the idea. I've always wondered why there are so few statues in this city.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Charlotte has a love-hate relationship with its history.  It usually skips the 1800s to harken back to Meck-Deck, Hornets Nest, Polk Family, Washington's "trifling" comment, and to the founding of the city and county.  Then a giant leap to the era of textile mills, Duke, Latta, Ovens, etc.  I sometimes forget that Charlotte has an antebellum past, and i think that is by design.  Partly because northern newcomers (even the carpet baggers that came for textile riches 100 years ago) don't associate with that past.  But also for the obvious reason that Charlotte leaders/boosters don't want to be associated with conferate/slave state past.  

I think Charlotte has gotten to this point because it is a forward looking city.  But in Charlotte, the omission of history is more noticeable than almost all other places i've lived/been.  Sometimes i think it is because it doesn't have much history, and that may be little true. it isn't boston or philly and it was a small village/town until a hundred years ago.  But mostly, i just think this city does everything it can to not look back.

I hope that changes as more people settle down here, and as the city does more to draw back diaspora blacks, revitalize ghetto neighborhoods, integrate economic success, and creates a place that people can respect NOW.  THEN, the city can feel like it has arrived and be honest with the good and bad in its past.  Statues and all.

[atlrvr]

^ one of the best responses I've seen on the subject of Charlotte's history and our current attitudes

[eastsider]

Very good points.

[Neo]

I went to Freedom Park this afternoon and walked the length of the park and the greenway that goes by CMC.  I took some pictures (below) but I had a question.  I know there is all of the talk about the construction of the greenway DT, will it be attached to this greenway?  I'm 99% sure that it will but I just wanted to clear that up in my mind.  Today I wished I would have had a bike as I would have just went up the stairs and continued on to DT via Morehead.

[moonshield]

i thought that was what that park cap was for over 277. I am pretty sure it will be connected many ways.

[dubone]

you walked through the land that will be part of little sugar creek greenway.

It goes just past downtown, and extends all the way past pineville.

http://www.charmeck....enways/home.asp

[eastsider]

The greenway will continue across Morehead along Kings Ave.

Another question: Does anyone know how the new section that goes behind Park Road SC will connect to Freedom Park? Right now you have to go down one of the neighborhood streets to get between the two.

[monsoon]

Nice photos, Mr. D.  

[Neo]

Is this section of the greenway, from Morehead to midtown in the 2009 plan or just in the 2025 plan?  I'd be very eager to make use of this system if the two were connected.

[Neo]

monsoon, on Apr 10 2005, 05:22 PM, said:

Nice photos, Mr. D.   

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I fear my legs will go limp tomorrow from walking around Freedom Park twice and walking that greenway once.

[Raintree21]

So when does construction start?  The city bought the land along S. Kings and tore down the buildings, but it's been several months since anything has been done.

[Raintree21]

Greenway Master Plan (1999 - 2009)


I glanced through it but did not see any dates (besides the those in the title).