Charlotte Greenways and Trails

[KJHburg]

False spring day equals greenway walking.  Like Forrest Gump (one of my all time favorite movies)  Walk KJ Walk!  Before an appt and could thing I brought a change of shirts as it was getting warmer out there.    Four Mile Greenway which there is a part of in Matthews I have walked extensively.  This part is from Rea Rd under Elm Lane W passed the huge wetland areas over to Johnston Rd.  I think it was 3 miles round trip.  anyway I would HIGHLY recommend this greenway as over half is boardwalk over wetlands.  As a beach condo owner I love me some wetlands.  This is probably the biggest wetland in Meck County.    It would be nice to connect this up to Matthews.  Piper Glen is not the problem as the county has land along the creek but it is where it goes through Raintree that could be problematic .  Went to the junction of the McAlpine Creek and Four Mile Creek right by Johnston Rd.  

This greenway was very busy for a Friday morning and I heard at least 4 languages spoken on this the most international greenway.  

the tour of all the greenways continues. 

[Bikeguy]

3 hours ago, KJHburg said:

False spring day equals greenway walking.  Like Forrest Gump (one of my all time favorite movies)  Walk KJ Walk!  Before an appt and could thing I brought a change of shirts as it was getting warmer out there.    Four Mile Greenway which there is a part of in Matthews I have walked extensively.  This part is from Rea Rd under Elm Lane W passed the huge wetland areas over to Johnston Rd.  I think it was 3 miles round trip.  anyway I would HIGHLY recommend this greenway as over half is boardwalk over wetlands.  As a beach condo owner I love me some wetlands.  This is probably the biggest wetland in Meck County.    It would be nice to connect this up to Matthews.  Piper Glen is not the problem as the county has land along the creek but it is where it goes through Raintree that could be problematic .  Went to the junction of the McAlpine Creek and Four Mile Creek right by Johnston Rd.  

This greenway was very busy for a Friday morning and I heard at least 4 languages spoken on this the most international greenway.  

the tour of all the greenways continues. 

 

Great pics.  Those boardwalks are lovely when dry, but wet them a bit and they're deadly,  if on a bike.  

 

 

 

 

Edited February 26, 2022 by Bikeguy
stupidity

[KJHburg]

walked in the afternoon notice the sun on the only greenway in SW Mecklenburg county the Walkers Branch and Hoovers Creek  greenway behind the Rivergate shopping center.  It is about half mile but connects a neighborhood and apartment complex to the shopping center.  entrances by Home Depot and another shorter stretch behind Homegoods.   This area needs more greenways for sure! 

tell your other to go shopping here and then walk the entire greenway while one is in Home Depot or Target or Homegoods.  Believe me you can walk the entire trail while your other is shopping. 

This part of the county is major shafted in greenways.  They do have some good parks but this area needs many more and yes I saw a few people on this short greenway.  

Only 2 more different greenways to go on then I will have been on every greenway or a part thereof in the county.  

[KJHburg]

sunny day greenway day.  was down in south Charlotte for work so decided to pop in on this very new section of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway.  I would rank this in the top 5 I have walked on in Meck County.

from the county website

""This capital project will develop ~ 1.8 mile greenway extension from I-485 to the Polk Historic Site.  This greenway section is part of the Cross Charlotte Trail which will eventually connect Cabarrus County to the South Carolina State Line.  ""     Construction is now done on this stretch and walked the whole thing and saw the new construction onward to South Carolina.  

History: James K Polk birthplace State Historical Site  (only President born in Meck County and was responsible for adding Texas and entire southwest including California to the country) 

Marsh Park:  I hope this is named for the Marsh family as this is not a marsh.  Marsh is tidal and unless Sugar Creek has a tide chart it is a swamp or wetland but not a marsh in that sense.  Anyway a very nice area parking along Leitner Drive behind Centrum Pkwy and shopping center.  This section of the greenway goes passed furniture row along Carolina Place Pkwy, the mall, the Centrum shopping center up to the Carolina Pavilion shopping center on the other side of I-485 inside the beltway.  

Couple of things I will note:  despite this being a busy commercial area I saw 2 deer near Polk site. another thing is that Mecklenburg county has a LOT of WETLANDs.  No wonder we have so many mosquitos around here in the summer.  walk these greenways especially to south end of the county and there are wetlands all over the place.  I am talking about standing water everywhere!  I am surprised we don't have to do aerial spraying in in this county.  

Lots of photos but I put this greenway in my top 5.  

about the under construction section 8th photo

""This capital project will develop ~ 2.9 mile greenway extension from the Polk Historic Site to the South Carolina State Line.  This greenway section is part of the Cross Charlotte Trail which will eventually connect Cabarrus County to the South Carolina State Line.  ""

Sound barriers on one side the 485 bridge because part of the Park Crossing neighborhood is very close there.  
 

 

[go_vertical]

I can't help but wonder how many people with trypophobia might have found that sculpture at least a little unsettling. 

[deleted account]

5 hours ago, KJHburg said:

sunny day greenway day.  was down in south Charlotte for work so decided to pop in on this very new section of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway.  I would rank this in the top 5 I have walked on in Meck County.

from the county website

""This capital project will develop ~ 1.8 mile greenway extension from I-485 to the Polk Historic Site.  This greenway section is part of the Cross Charlotte Trail which will eventually connect Cabarrus County to the South Carolina State Line.  ""     Construction is now done on this stretch and walked the whole thing and saw the new construction onward to South Carolina.  

History: James K Polk birthplace State Historical Site  (only President born in Meck County and was responsible for adding Texas and entire southwest including California to the country) 

Marsh Park:  I hope this is named for the Marsh family as this is not a marsh.  Marsh is tidal and unless Sugar Creek has a tide chart it is a swamp or wetland but not a marsh in that sense.  Anyway a very nice area parking along Leitner Drive behind Centrum Pkwy and shopping center.  This section of the greenway goes passed furniture row along Carolina Place Pkwy, the mall, the Centrum shopping center up to the Carolina Pavilion shopping center on the other side of I-485 inside the beltway.  

Couple of things I will note:  despite this being a busy commercial area I saw 2 deer near Polk site. another thing is that Mecklenburg county has a LOT of WETLANDs.  No wonder we have so many mosquitos around here in the summer.  walk these greenways especially to south end of the county and there are wetlands all over the place.  I am talking about standing water everywhere!  I am surprised we don't have to do aerial spraying in in this county.  

Lots of photos but I put this greenway in my top 5.  

about the under construction section 8th photo

""This capital project will develop ~ 2.9 mile greenway extension from the Polk Historic Site to the South Carolina State Line.  This greenway section is part of the Cross Charlotte Trail which will eventually connect Cabarrus County to the South Carolina State Line.  ""

Sound barriers on one side the 485 bridge because part of the Park Crossing neighborhood is very close there.  
 

 

My favorite section of greenway, very popular with cyclists. 

[KJHburg]

1 minute ago, JBS said:

My favorite section of greenway, very popular with cyclists. 

Yes I saw lots today.  

[KJHburg]

Mallard Creek Greenway through University Research Park this is the main greenway for the university area.  You can live 3-5 miles away from UNC Charlotte and commute by bike if you want. This is a fairly busy greenway.  Passes the new Centene Campus and TIAA campus.   This greenway totals 7.4 miles. 

 

[kayman]

On 3/1/2022 at 8:15 PM, JBS said:

My favorite section of greenway, very popular with cyclists. 

 

On 3/1/2022 at 8:18 PM, KJHburg said:

Yes I saw lots today.  

Ironically, I was out there from Tyvola Road to the Polk historical site.  I probably passed you @KJHburg the other day getting it on my bike. 

Yes the 2.9 mile stretch of this very greenway & trail is starting preliminary work.  I've been told by Meck County Parks & Rec Planning that it wouldn't be complete until either 2024 or early 2025.  I'm excited because it is going to be a great bike ride from NoDa to South Carolina state line.  I'm ready for the leg of the XCLT trail system connect from the NoDa to University City which will be a combination of Little Sugar Creek Greenway extension to the Toby Creek Greenway in the Newell area. 

[kayman]

Attached is the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Greenways Map from the Meck Playbook plan adopted in August 2021.

All lines that are green with the yellow dotted lines within are within the short term funded to be constructed.  In the next 5-10 years, I believe Mecklenburg County will be pressing the gas pedal to accelerate the greenway system on constructed miles.  We just need to get these necessary trail connectors via 6'+ wide sidewalks or paved or concrete multiuse paths between trails implemented within some of these municipalities and in unincorporated Mecklenburg County itself which would be funded and under the auspices of CDOT.  

I would strongly press posters here to contact your County Commissioners, town commissioners, and COC City Council members about these connections between greenway trails and other trails to be fully funded and constructed.

1222625137_MecklenburgCountyParkandRecreationGreenwaysMapAug.2021.pdf

Edited March 4, 2022 by kayman

[KJHburg]

Todays walk was from Sharon Rd West to I-485 on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway.   The "creek" here reminded me of the San Antonio River south of downtown SA quite wide and the greenway trail was way up on the bank.  This greenway was very busy today.   This looks fairly new and they the parks department did a great job with the creek restoration and trail here. 

That Carolina Pavilion shopping center is huge been there many times but walking behind it, it seemed even bigger.  

Now have walked on all greenways but 2 and backfilling all the miles now.  

[videtur quam contuor]

[Mostly but not completely off topic] My high school was Broad Ripple High School in Indianapolis. Broad Ripple was a separate community until the early 1900's when it was merged with Indy.

Now about that name:  The first settlers to the area in 1820's were much more attuned to the landforms than we. They wanted good soil, flat land (no problem there), fresh water for themselves and their stock, and, if possible, a location where trade and travel would bring business to them. At the bend of White River, the major waterway in central Indiana, they saw a location where there was a "riffle'. A broad riffle, meaning water dancing over stones a short distance below the surface for the entire width. This riffle meant that animals and wagons could ford the river during most periods of the year. This brought travelers and trade to their location, a perfect place to claim. Over time the "riffle" became "ripple" and then the small community that grew took the name of the location. The high school opened in 1887 and has been on the current location since 1913 facing the ripple of the very name. 

(see photo from KJH above with riffle identified in stream)

Edited March 6, 2022 by tarhoosier

[KJHburg]

Up in Kannapolis visiting mom and decided to walk the Loop in downtown Kannapolis.  It is a series of greenways that connects parks and it is slightly over 2 miles.  One thing about Kannapolis they have the mileage spelled out on their signs.  Very friendly folks up there in K Town.  Even crossed into Rowan county as this is a city of Kannapolis greenway and the city straddles the line. 

Decided to walk it in reverse from what the signs pointed and glad I did the most hills were at the beginning and along a a busy 4 lane loop road around downtown.  There is a 3 mile loop which goes way around downtown but it a lot of sidewalks.  Plus shorter 1 mile and even 1/2 mile loops so something for everyone.  

a part of the Carolina Thread Trail network.   Main part there has a little gauge train too not operating today. 

[KJHburg]

A unique part of the Carolina Thread Trail in Waxhaw.  From the Nesbit Park in Waxhaw you can walk a mostly unpaved trail to a suspension bridge over Twelve Mile Creek that on one side is NC and the other Lancaster County SC.    (and yes it is a real suspension bridge that has a good bit of movement when walking across it)    Millbridge is a huge master planned community just north of the historic Waxhaw downtown and it bumps right up on the NC SC line.   Other parts of this greenway are paved heading back towards another Waxhaw park.  

Be brave and walk the only swinging bridge between the 2 Carolinas!

https://www.carolinathreadtrailmap.org/trails/trail/twelve-mile-creek

Once in SC the trail follows the creek  closer  and is flatter whereas the NC side before the bridge is much higher elevation with the creek down a steep ravine. 

I would recommend this trail as a great nearby trail and the suspension bridge is fun unless you are squeamish about movement over heights.   was in the area today and decided to check it out and glad I did.  

PS the NC sign on the bridge was missing probably stolen by a  Waxhawite. 

 

 

[deleted account]

3 minutes ago, KJHburg said:

A unique part of the Carolina Thread Trail in Waxhaw.  From the Nesbit Park in Waxhaw you can walk a mostly unpaved trail to a suspension bridge over Twelve Mile Creek that on one side is NC and the other Lancaster County SC.    (and yes it is a real suspension bridge that has a good bit of movement when walking across it)    Millbridge is a huge master planned community just north of the historic Waxhaw downtown and it bumps right up on the NC SC line.   Other parts of this greenway are paved heading back towards another Waxhaw park.  

Be brave and walk the only swinging bridge between the 2 Carolinas!

https://www.carolinathreadtrailmap.org/trails/trail/twelve-mile-creek

Once in SC the trail follows the creek  closer  and is flatter whereas the NC side before the bridge is much higher elevation with the creek down a steep ravine. 

I would recommend this trail as a great nearby trail and the suspension bridge is fun unless you are squeamish about movement over heights.   was in the area today and decided to check it out and glad I did.  

PS the NC sign on the bridge was missing probably stolen by a  Waxhawite. 

 

 

This one is also awesome. My wife on the bridge:

[videtur quam contuor]

Four, Six, and Twelve Mile Creeks were probably named for the mileage from McAlpine Creek along Providence Road.

On page 13 of this document which has copious detail about Cornwallis and the Mecklenburg Campaign:

http://elehistory.com/amrev/CornwallisNCInvasion.pdf

[KJHburg]

story about greenways.  and they mention one of my favorites the Four Mile Creek through the massive wetlands of south Charlotte between Rea and Johnston Rd. 

Hmm thought so:

"""Greenways continue to be our No. 1 requested amenity within our system anytime we do a large scale survey,” said Bert Lynn, capital planning division director for Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation.""

https://charlotte.axios.com/289802/why-mecklenburg-county-is-spending-millions-on-a-mile-of-greenway/

this is why I will continue to say "Build out the Greenway way before any taxpayer funded freeway cap."    

[KJHburg]

Walked across the UNCC campus on the Toby Creek Greenway from University City Blvd to the Mallard Creek junction.   The restoration of the creek seems almost complete and there were a  few flooded spots after the 2 inches of rain yesterday.    This will be part of the XCLT trail follows this creek Toby Creek up to the ridge that divides Meck County into 2 watersheds.  All the water in this area drains into the Pee Dee River basin.  Most of Meck County drains into the Catawba of course.  So the Cross Charlotte Trail will not always follow a creek and there  is a ridge in east Charlotte that divides the 2 watersheds.     I like this greenway and not just saying that because I am Alum. 

https://charlottenc.gov/charlottefuture/CIP/Pages/CrossCharlotteTrail.aspx

[NYtoCLT]

Are there any plans to connect the Cordelia Park portion of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway to the urban/midtown portion?  It feels like such an important gap.

[KJHburg]

3 minutes ago, NYtoCLT said:

Are there any plans to connect the Cordelia Park portion of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway to the urban/midtown portion?  It feels like such an important gap.

 I think this is the connection. 

https://charlottenc.gov/Projects/Pages/XCLT7thto10th.aspx

[NYtoCLT]

8 minutes ago, KJHburg said:

 I think this is the connection. 

https://charlottenc.gov/Projects/Pages/XCLT7thto10th.aspx

It says complete.  Does that mean the city views this as connected?

[KJHburg]

5 minutes ago, NYtoCLT said:

It says complete.  Does that mean the city views this as connected?

Unfortunately so unless some one else knows something.  There is a break in the greenway where it turns into sidewalks for a couple of blocks due to location of the highways.  There was a plan to build a bridge but I think it got cancelled.  Maybe someone knows different. 

[JRCLT]

Yeah I suppose it’s done. Haven’t been, but I’ve seen glimpses of what they planned on here. Seems done.



As for the bridge I remember it and followed it until it fell through. I had seen some concept renderings and I thought they were interesting. Personally I like the crown like tower not as tall but still flashy and representative of the Queen City. Hopefully in the future they can get to it. It seems the current status isn’t permanent they left this for some time in the future.

[KJHburg]

Maybe we can get another bank hint a large Bank in America or a stagecoach to sponsor even a basic trail bridge like US Bank is doing with the Rail Trail bridge over 277.    Or here is a idea line the bridge with purple lights and put Truist's name on it and no I am not joking.  What great branding it would be.  

[Nathan2]

They really need to make the bike lane on the bridge fully separated by a jersey barrier, it would not take them that much effort or money. I refuse to bike in those lanes and just take the car lane because its full of so much debris.