carolina thread trail master plan for lincoln county communities november 2009 vision statement A network of bicycle and pedestrian trails will connect the communities, businesses, schools, parks and historic resources of Lincoln 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 resources and, wherever possible, providing opportunities to experience the County’s rich history. The linear parks will be open to all, providing positive opportunities for active living among neighbors, coworkers, families, visitors, and friends. Lincoln County will also 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...............................................................................................................................................24 . Destinations......................................................................................................................................................28 chapter 4: proposed trail network . Planning.Process................................................................................................................................................30 . Greenway.Master.Plan.Trail.Routes......................................................................................................................31 . Description.of.CTT.Route.by.Segment..................................................................................................................40 chapter 5: recommended actions for implementation . Adopt.this.Plan...................................................................................................................................................46. Build.Public.Support...........................................................................................................................................46 . Complete.Priority.Greenway.Segments................................................................................................................ 47 . Define.Funding.and.Financing........................................................................................................................... 48 . Evaluate.Land.or.Right-of-Way.Acquisition..........................................................................................................50 . Design,.Construct.and.Maintain.Trails................................................................................................................ 51 chapter 6: conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 52 Table of Contents, continued maps: . All.Proposed.Trail.Connections.for.Lincoln.County,.NC.........................................................................................32. Priority.Segment.C:.Clark.Creek.and.Walker.Creek.Connector:..............................................................................33 . Priority.Segment.D:.Rail.Trail.Extensions.............................................................................................................34 . Priority.Segment.F:.Rail.Trail.to.Lick.Run.............................................................................................................35 . Priority.Segment.J:.Forney.Creek.Corridor...........................................................................................................36 . Priority.Segment.L:.Connector:..East.Lincoln.Recreation.Center.to.Hwy.73..............................................................37 . Priority.Segment.M:.Hwy.73.to.State.Educational.Forest........................................................................................38 . Priority.Segment.N:.Connector.to.Beatties.Ford.Park............................................................................................39 . CTT.-.Proposed.Connections.by.Segment.............................................................................................................40 tables: . Table.1:.A.Demographic.View.of.Lincoln.County.and.the.Metropolitan.Area.............................................................20. Table.2:.Population.Change.in.the.City.of.Lincolnton.............................................................................................21 . Table.3:.An.Economic.View.of.Lincoln.County.and.the.Metropolitan.Area................................................................22 . Table.4:.Local.Conservation.Financing.Options.in.North.Carolina..........................................................................49 appendices: . Appendix.I:.Carolina.Thread.Trail.Public.Meeting.Summary..................................................................................54. Appendix.II:.Public.Comment.Form.Summary.......................................................................................................56 . Appendix.III:.Funding.and.Financing...................................................................................................................62. Appendix.IV:.Conservation.Toolbox.....................................................................................................................80 . Appendix.V:.Design.Guidelines...........................................................................................................................86 footnotes.................................................................................................................................................... .114 acknowledgements The following organizations signed resolutions of support Lincoln 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 Trail Advisory Committee Members: build trails that will connect our communities: Tom Anderson East Lincoln Betterment Association Lincoln County Board of Commissioners Lincoln County Board of Commissioners Sam Ausband Interested Citizen City of Lincolnton Andrew Bryant Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Lincoln County, Staff Support Lincoln Natural Resources Committee Larry Cagle Woodmill Winery Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District Board Pete Capece PROBUS Club of Lake Norman Co-Chair Rob Carson Lincoln County, Staff Support Dr. Les Cloninger Lincolnton City Council Jerry Cochrane Interested Citizen Patricia Finster City of Lincolnton, Staff Support Steve Gurley City of Lincolnton Bjorn Hansen Lake Norman RPO Jason Harpe Lincoln County Historical Association Ray Holmes East Lincoln Betterment Association Sylvia Holmes Lincoln County Recreation Commission Acknowledgements, continued Tom Howard Thanks also to the members of the Mapping Technical Advisory Catawba Lands Conservancy Board Team (MTAT) who assisted in collecting and analyzing data, and proposing alternative scenarios for consideration