Cabarrus County Communities
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carolina thread trail master plan for cabarrus county communities august 2009 vision statement A network of bicycle and pedestrian trails will connect the communities, businesses, schools, parks and other attractions of Cabarrus County, offering valuable opportunities for recreation, transportation, and economic development. This network of trails will also contribute to the future viability of the County through the conservation of open space along trail corridors, protecting natural habitats, water resources, and cultural resources. The trails will be open to all, providing positive opportunities for active living among neighbors, coworkers, families, visitors, and friends. In addition, Cabarrus County will feature its own portion of the Carolina Thread Trail, linking the local trail network to people and places throughout the 15-county region. 2 table of contents acknowledgements.................................................................................................................................... 6 executive summary ................................................................................................................................... 8 chapter 1: introduction . Carolina.Thread.Trail..........................................................................................................................................12 chapter 2: public benefits of trails and greenways . Trails.Enhance.Value.of.Real.Estate.....................................................................................................................14 . Trail.Tourism.Creates.Economic.Impacts.............................................................................................................16 . Bicycle.and.Pedestrian.Transportation.................................................................................................................17 . Improving.Health.through.Active.Living...............................................................................................................18 . Clear.Skies,.Clean.Rivers,.and.Protected.Wildlife..................................................................................................18 . Protecting.People.and.Property.from.Flood.Damage..............................................................................................19 . Enhancing.Cultural.Awareness.and.Community.Identity........................................................................................19 chapter 3: existing conditions . Geography.of.the.Study.Area/Land.Cover..............................................................................................................20. Population.........................................................................................................................................................20 . Economy...........................................................................................................................................................21 . Development.Trends..........................................................................................................................................22 . Existing.Parks.and.Trails.....................................................................................................................................22 . Community.Plans...............................................................................................................................................25 . Destinations......................................................................................................................................................28 chapter 4: proposed trail network . Planning.Process................................................................................................................................................30 . Greenway.Master.Plan.Trail.Routes......................................................................................................................31 . Description.of.CTT.Route.by.Segment..................................................................................................................39 chapter 5: recommended actions for implementation . Adopt.this.Plan...................................................................................................................................................44. Build.Public.Support...........................................................................................................................................44 . Complete.Priority.Greenway.Segments.................................................................................................................45 . Define.Funding.and.Financing............................................................................................................................46 . Evaluate.Land.or.Right-of-Way.Acquisition..........................................................................................................48 . Design,.Construct.and.Maintain.Trails.................................................................................................................49 chapter 6: conclusion ..........................................................................................................................50 Table of Contents, continued maps: . All.Proposed.Trail.Connections.for.Cabarrus.County,.NC.......................................................................................32. Proposed.Trail.Connections.for.Concord,.NC........................................................................................................33 . Proposed.Trail.Connections.for.Harrisburg,.NC....................................................................................................34 . Proposed.Trail.Connections.for.Kannapolis,.NC....................................................................................................35 . Proposed.Trail.Connections.for.Midland,.NC........................................................................................................36 . Proposed.Trail.Connections.for.Mt..Pleasant,.NC..................................................................................................37 . CTT.-.Proposed.Connections.by.Segment.............................................................................................................38 tables: . Table.1:.A.Demographic.View.of.Cabarrus.County.and.the.Metropolitan.Area...........................................................20. Table.2:.Population.Change.of.Cabarrus.County’s.Largest.Municipalities.................................................................21 . Table.3:.An.Economic.View.of.Cabarrus.County.and.the.Metropolitan.Area..............................................................22 . Table.4:.Local.Conservation.Financing.Options.in.North.Carolina..........................................................................47 appendices: . Appendix.I:.Carolina.Thread.Trail.Public.Meeting.Summary..................................................................................52. Appendix.II:.Public.Comment.Form.Summary.......................................................................................................54 . Appendix.III:.Funding.and.Financing...................................................................................................................60. Appendix.IV:.Conservation.Toolbox.....................................................................................................................78 . Appendix.V:.Design.Guidelines...........................................................................................................................84 footnotes.................................................................................................................................................... .112 acknowledgements The following organizations signed resolutions of support Cabarrus County Communities at the outset of this effort to work with neighboring communities Carolina Thread Trail and with the Carolina Thread Trail to plan, design, and Steering Committee Members: build trails that will connect our communities: Jeff Ashbaugh Site Solutions Cabarrus County Troy Barnhardt Cabarrus County Tourism Authority Town of Mount Pleasant Cabarrus Regional Chamber Ellen Boyd Board of Directors Kannapolis City Schools Cabarrus Rowan MPO Dr. John Benbow Community Leader City of Concord Sharon Campbell City of Kannapolis Cabarrus CVB Town of Harrisburg Andy Christy City of Concord Business and Neighborhood Services Town of Midland Phil Conrad Town of Mount Pleasant Cabarrus-Rowan MPO Healthy Cabarrus Mark Conversano City of Concord Parks and Recreation Adrian Cox Town of Mount Pleasant Brett Crosby Cannon Memorial YMCA Bennie Darden Philip Morris USA- Manager of Community Affairs Bob Dowless City of Concord Parks and Recreation Mike Downs Cabarrus County Gina Goff Healthy Cabarrus, Cabarrus Health Alliance Acknowledgements, continued Jeff Huss Londa Strong Cabarrus County- Planning for Midland Cabarrus County Parks David Joseph Hall, Jr. Dennis Testerman Town of Harrisburg Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District Brian Hiatt Ben Warren City of Concord City of Kannapolis Coleman Keeter Josh Watkins WSACC Town of Harrisburg Mark Kincaid David Whitley City of Concord City of Concord Shawn Line Joe Wilson Town of Harrisburg City of Concord Transportation Colleen Nelson Jeff Young Cabarrus County Planning City of Concord Rick Price Town of Midland Planning and Zoning Commission Jonathan Marshall