Charlotte Greenways and Trails

[JHart]

The greenway extension between 10th Street and Jackson is really nice! Decent hill climb but it is constant and you have awesome skyline views going the other direction. Agree with @Nathan2though the "protected bike lanes" across Central are full of trash constantly and the car lanes on Central are very narrow, I wouldn't be surprised if a pedestrian fatality occurs due to a driver running right through the plastic bollards

[KJHburg]

22 hours ago, NYtoCLT said:

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

and @JeanCltyou asked here are the photos.  Parked at Captain Jacks statue and heading north.   Here is my step by step walk on this urban section of the Sugar Creek Greenway today.  After walking so many greenways in the suburbs hearing birds chirping, frogs croaking, water rippling this was very different.   Cars, trains, streetcars, signs and billboards etc.  I felt the buffer of the bike lanes on the Central Ave bridge made me feel safer as that sidewalk on the bridge is narrow.   I can see a future connection for a path to a bridge if ever happens.  First time walking that stretch for sure.  Had to cross 3 streets.  But people were pretty friendly just like they are out in the far flung burbs.   Really liked the Catawba Indian statue too.   Caught a CSX train over the trestle.   What Parks and Rec had to work with I think they did a good job.  Kannapolis and Concord both have greenways that go onto sidewalks like that.  

Lots of photos but my first walk.  Your greenway ambassador KJ 

[KJHburg]

Yes not until today have I been on the Sugar Creek Greenway opposite from Freedom Park.  Been to the park many times but not on the greenway from  Princeton to East Blvd until today.  

Just a couple more segments to walk then I will have completed the whole thing that is open for now.   and the suspension did not even move unlike the bridge down in Waxhaw which I call galloping Gertie. 

Been south to Woodlawn then the missing link that is under construction then further south.  

[KJHburg]

Rules of the Rail Trail or in this case rules of the Beltline trail in Atlanta.  But I think these can apply to Charlotte's Rail Trail too.  

https://urbanize.city/atlanta/post/beltline-unofficial-rules-to-live-by

[RANYC]

Because you've covered nearly all of the greenways, do you feel this is moving in the direction of becoming a truly authenticating and impactful amenity for our city?  Or was there anything left to be desired or that you found fundamentally disappointing?

[KJHburg]

5 hours ago, RANYC said:

Because you've covered nearly all of the greenways, do you feel this is moving in the direction of becoming a truly authenticating and impactful amenity for our city?  Or was there anything left to be desired or that you found fundamentally disappointing?

Yes I do!  My only problem is that we are not further along like Cary, Raleigh and Wake County.  However Meck Parks and Rec does the greenways correct and they are very nice.  Only thing I think is not good is some graffiti on the signs especially at the more intown signs.  How about some in juvenile court system ordered to clean these signs and pick up trash around greenways. 

But the system we are building is great just stitch it all together in the next 10 years or less and get more private money to help with it.    Soon you will be able to walk from NoDa all the way to Pineville and James K Polk's birthplace and into SC now that is a great trail.   I am telling you if there was a vote taken just for greenways and parks it would pass overwhelming as it affects more citizens of this county. 

[KJHburg]

In the Southpark area with some time to kill so walked a new part for me of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway from Tyvola Road to the long bridge south of Archdale near Charlotte Tennis Center.   Wanted to see the construction on the missing link the greenway under construction between Tyvola and Woodlawn/Park Rd shopping center.  Once that is finished you will be really able to Cross Charlotte on the Trail from NoDa to below Pineville to the state line at James K Polk site.    Construction is well underway.  This part of the greenway stinks literally. You get a few whiffs of the 10 million gallon sewage treatment plant.   No wonder the bikers were speeding by me at top speed a lowly walker.  Couple miles further south for me then I will have walked most of this greenway.  

KJ Personal history:  My grandfather worked for the city of Charlotte at the sewage treatment plant off Billy Graham for many years and would always take us over there when I came down to Charlotte on my summer vacation as a kid.  It stinks a lot less now then it did then.   

Photos start near the Treatment plant and walked north to Tyvola where it stops for now then back down south past Archdale to the long bridge which is great.  Thought the old cars rusting away were very interesting.   also interesting new townhomes off Archdale touting greenway access. 

 

[Desert Power]

Yeah, browsing through this series it really comes across that Charlotte parks have consistent signage and are very clean. I need to get me a bike.

[Bikeguy]

30 minutes ago, Desert Power said:

Yeah, browsing through this series it really comes across that Charlotte parks have consistent signage and are very clean. I need to get me a bike.

try the Recyclery first.  Best low-cost selection of used ( very nice ) bikes of all types and sizes.    

[stw52]

12 hours ago, KJHburg said:

This part of the greenway stinks literally. You get a few whiffs of the 10 million gallon sewage treatment plant. 

This was my old stomping ground and most days there is no smell. But drove past today and  could smell it even though my cars windows were shut. One of my favorite greenways  and i love that they kept the old cars and integrated the access to the biking Backyard Trials.

[InSouthPark]

18 minutes ago, stw52 said:

This was my old stomping ground and most days there is no smell. But drove past today and  could smell it even though my cars windows were shut. One of my favorite greenways  and i love that they kept the old cars and integrated the access to the biking Backyard Trials.

I lived along this greenway for a year in 2019 and walked the greenway usually twice a day.  You could smell the sewage plant like maybe once or twice.  It only happens when they have to put "stuff" into the uncovered concrete pit thing.  With the heavy rains we had last week, they might have had too much to treat and had to hold in the "pit" for a couple days.  99% of the time the pit is 100% empty. 

Everything else is completely encased.

[KJHburg]

Last stretch for me on the Little Sugar Creek greenway south of Tyvola  and south of the gap which is looking good.  Now have walked all parts south of Tyvola to James K Polk site in Pineville. 

This stretch from south of Archdale to Sharon Rd West near Huntingtowne Farms. 

It is greenway season!   Notice the fairly nice pair of shoes hanging in the tree.   Two more greenways to go and have walked on all of them now backfilling every mile.

Dr KJ says take a greenway walk 3-4 times  a week to keep the doctor at bay. 

[KJHburg]

quick drive by shots of the the missing link of the LSC Greenway from Park Road crossing.  this is looking good cant wait to walk on it. 

 Ignore that guy he jumped in my photo. 

[Guest]

I hope this is the right thread: How is it that Atherton Mill doesn’t have a rail trail segment yet? Is it coming at some point?

[KJHburg]

2 hours ago, MothBeast said:

I hope this is the right thread: How is it that Atherton Mill doesn’t have a rail trail segment yet? Is it coming at some point?

The Rail trail is on that side of LYNX tracks too behind Atherton Mill and it goes down to the Publix.  It will continue further south once the new apartments are done on the site of Off Broadway shoe store. 

[Guest]

It’s hard to see from the other side of the tracks I guess! My mistake, glad they finished it up

[KJHburg]

Clarks Creek Greenway in University area off Mallard Creek Rd.  This joins Mallard Creek Greenway that goes into and through the University Research Park.   Lots of nice houses, townhomes and apartments backing up to the greenway here.  Both creeks are very rocky and this greenway is more hilly than most in south Charlotte.  All  of these creeks drain into the Yadkin Pee Dee watershed not the Catawba River.  All water flows into Cabarrus County in this area.  This is an older and well used segment of the greenway system and allows one to bike or walk from homes in the University area to the Research Park or even UNC Charlotte.   Multiple bridges at the junction of Clark Creek and Mallard Creek.  Even what I would call a traffic circle for greenway with a roundabout near Mallard Creek Elem.   If you live in this area and have a basement I would check for radon as I did not realize how rocky this area is and might be good to check. 

[KJHburg]

Caldwell Station Creek greenway in Cornelius today. Very small stream. but nice path nonetheless.  If you want to see the tallest trees in Mecklenburg County walk any suburban greenway.  This one had some great ones. 

[KJHburg]

There is only one Meck County greenway I have not walked on.  Now I am backfilling every single mile of greenways.  I have now completed the entire Little Sugar Creek Greenway from 24th St in Villa Heights to James K Polk birthplace in Pineville.  2 sections not opened now a section by Atrium Main from East Blvd to Morehead which is being rebuilt and the missing link from Woodlawn/Runnymede to Tyvola Rd which is under construction now.  Here are the photos of my walk from 24th St to 12th and a missing segment in Myers Park.  But now have walked it all and on to others.    I have now done the XCLT trail just not in one visit as I have walked on many of the XCLT trails up in the university area like Toby Creek and Mallard Creek greenways. 

Notice the weird cow statue in Myers Park (maybe a Chick-fil-a operator?) 

[KJHburg]

Decided to contemplate my tax bill after my accountant appointment so I walked the Torrence Creek Greenway in a section I did not walk previously.   This will also have a connection to the future McDowell Creek greenway which stops right near Birkdale Village now.    I have never seen so many heifers along the greenway especially in Mecklenburg county!   These cows were off the greenway though.  

[carolinaboy]

That third picture would have scared the poopoo out of me. I bet it has done that to a person or two.

[KJHburg]

4 hours ago, carolinaboy said:

That third picture would have scared the poopoo out of me. I bet it has done that to a person or two.

Yes the Yeti, the sasquatch, the Big Foot was seen on this greenway along with the heifers! 

[KJHburg]

Little Sugar Creek greenway urban section along Kings Drive.  It was such a nice day I had to walk 3 different greenways today all over the county.   The statue is of the woman who started the first hospital for black residents in the city the Good Samaritan Hospital  where BofA Stadium stands. 

and I do remember the old Kings Drive where the creek was buried in a concrete tomb and there was an Exxon and McDonalds and Taco Bell along that route.  Now turtles and geese enjoying the creek. 

and I will post the Irwin Creek Stewart Creek greenway shots later.  

[KJHburg]

Stewarts Creek greenway and Irwin Creek greenway from Seversville Wesley Heights to Uptown.  Last 2 photos checked out that tall tree that has sprouted on the bridge over the creek at W 5th Street. 

working down my remaining miles of Meck greenways I need to walk. 

This greenway gets the award for best skyline views. 

[KJHburg]

The parking lot at Kirk Farm Fields is now reopened so I was able to walk a short stretch of the Mallard Creek greenway I had not walked on due this construction.  The evidence of why these greenways are needed is the abundance of standing water everywhere.  Under these bridges lots of mud too which shows flooding. 

The Barton Creek greenway which I walked up does have a warning that is very steep which it is.  I recommend this greenway walking down only  LOL.