Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation

Parks, Preserves and Greenways

Mecklenburg County Greenways

Whether you are biking, running, strolling or walking, discover the 35 miles of greenways throughout Mecklenburg County. Fascinating views of birds, flora and fauna abound. For downloads of specific greenways, visit parkandrec.com/greenways or click on the number.

Greenways are linear parks that connect people and places. They act as buffers that filter out pollutants from storm water before it enters our creeks. They also preserve natural areas for wildlife and native plant communities. In Mecklenburg County, greenways offer visitors opportunities to enjoy nature and provide alternate ways to move through our city, suburbs and towns. Mecklenburg County operates 35 miles of trails. The greenway master plan envisions a system that will eventually stretch throughout the county and connect neighborhoods within Charlotte, the six surrounding towns and surrounding counties. To learn more about greenways and to download trail maps, please visit www.parkandrec.com/greenways.

Briar Creek Lower McAlpine, 1 2 5 Irwin Creek Greenway - 10 Greenway Clanton Park McMullen & Four Mile There are two developed sections of this This 0.8 mile paved greenway crosses Clan- Creek Greenways greenway. One 0.4 mile paved ton Park in the Revolution Park neighbor- This horseshoe shaped greenway runs 5.8 section includes a bridge over Briar Creek hood and connects the new Clanton In- miles through south Charlotte and passes and provides an important connection door Pavilion and soccer fields with Arbor under Interstate 485. The trail is between the Merry Oaks and Plaza-Mid- Glen Outreach Center. Parking is available composed of a variety of surfaces, wood neighborhoods. On street parking at either end of this greenway at Colony including asphalt, gravel and boardwalk. is available along Masonic Drive. Another Road and Runnymeade Lane. Parking is available off of Hwy 51 across 0.9 mile gravel trail follows Briar Creek from McMullen Creek Market. The most behind Myers Park High School between recently developed Four Mile Creek Colony Road and Runnymeade Lane. 6 7 8 9 Little Sugar Greenway section features significant Creek Greenway boardwalk through scenic wetlands with 3 Four Mile Creek There are four developed sections totaling abundant wildlife. A parking lot and Greenway 5.91 miles of trail. Almost a mile of trail restrooms are available off Johnston Road This 2 mile criss-cross greenway is nested is located in the Belmont neighborhood and Bevington Place. in the center of the town of Matthews, northeast of uptown Charlotte, includ- allowing residential areas direct access ing a railroad underpass connecting to to the Matthews Community Center and Alexander St. Park. The longest developed downtown area. stretch of trail is 4.70 miles beginning at East 7th street though Freedom Park and ending at Brandywine Road. Urban Little 4 Irwin Creek & Stewart Sugar Creek runs from East 7th Street Creek Greenway to Morehead. Liz Hair Nature Walk runs These trails comprise a continuous 2.1 from Morehead Street to East Boulevard mile creek side walk in the center city and is dedicated to the first woman to area of Charlotte. The trail takes visi- chair the Mecklenburg Board of County tors through the historic Wesley Heights Commissioners. Almost a mile of paved neighborhood and connects Ray’s Splash trail is developed through Huntingtowne Planet, Frazier Park and Phillip O. Berry Farms Park in south Charlotte. Parking Center. The trail is only a few minutes is available at YWCA on Parkwood Ave., walk from Johnson & Wales University, Freedom Park, Park Road Shopping Center Gateway Center and uptown condos and and Huntingtowne Farms Park. offers a quiet place to relax during a busy day. Parking is available at Ray’s Splash For More Information on Greenways visit Planet, Frazier Park and Bruns Avenue. www.parkandrec.com

Growing Greenways: Over the next year, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation will add additional mileage to the greenway system. Look for greenway trail construction along the following: Four Mile Creek, Irwin Creek, Little Sugar Creek, McDowell Creek, Toby Creek and Torrence Creek.

Get Going Guide • Summer 2014 www.parkandrec.com 26 Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation

Parks, Preserves and Greenways

Mecklenburg County Greenways

Mallard Creek and Clark’s 14 Six Mile Creek 11 Creek Greenways Greenway Located in the University area, the trail is This 0.9 mile paved greenway runs 7.1 miles long and is currently the longest along the county’s southern border. trail in the county. While much of the It will eventually link neighborhoods greenway is paved, a 1.2 mile gravel trail within Mecklenburg and Union through University Research Park connects counties. The trail was developed to the newly constructed section from through a partnership with LUESA David Taylor Drive to Kirk Farm Fields off (Land Use & Environmental Services of Mallard Creek Church Road, Colony Agency). Parking is available off of Road and Runnymeade Lane. Marvin Road. Toby Creek 16 Greenway McAlpine Creek & Toby Creek Greenway opened in 2011 12 South Prong Rocky River Campbell Creek Greenways 15 and adds 2 miles of trails to the system This greenway stretches for 4.1 miles & West Branch Rocky and a significant connection to the UNC in east Charlotte and is a favorite of River Greenways Charlotte Campus. Parking is available runners. McAlpine Creek Greenway is This 2.9 mile greenway connects down- at Mallard Creek Elementary School and composed primarily of gravel trail and town Davidson with neighborhoods to Kirk Farm Fields. boardwalk. It connects with Cottonwood the southeast along the South Prong of Nature Trail and the 3.1 mile McAlpine the Rocky River. Parking is available at 17 Torrence Creek Creek Cross Country course. Surrounded South Street near Davidson Elementary Greenway by urban development, the greenway School, on-street at the Hudson Place Located in Huntersville, the 1.4 mile trail is home to 188 different documented trailhead and at River Run Athletic Field. is composed of asphalt and boardwalk, species of birds, as well as beavers and Although part of the Mecklenburg County meandering through woods and river otters. Parking is available at Greenway system, this greenway is oper- wetlands. This greenway features large Margaret Wallace Road, McAlpine Creek ated by the Town of Davidson. Please rock formations along the eastern end Park and Old Bell Road. visit http://www.ci.davidson.nc.us/ for and meadows of wildflowers along the more information. Continuing approxi- western end. On-street parking is mately 3.2 miles long, the sidewalk and available on Bradford Hill Lane. 13 McDowell Creek bike lanes begin on Robert Walker Drive Greenway and continue on roads into River Run 18 Walker Branch Linking the Towns of Cornelius and Hunt- including River Ford Drive. This overland Greenway ersville, this 1.5 mile paved greenway is connector leads to the entrance plaza for The first greenway in southwest Meck- the first developed section of McDowell West Branch Rocky River Greenway. The lenburg County, this half-mile paved trail Creek. The greenway links several new greenway opened in 2011 and provides runs southeast from South Tryon Street and existing neighborhoods to great 1 mile of restful travel and natural areas. along Rivergate Parkway. Parking is destinations like Birkdale Village and the This greenway feels far from urban areas. located adjacent to the Home Depot on future Robbins Park location in Cornelius. Parking is available off of Marvin Road. Rivergate Parkway.

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