June 11, 2009
Charlotte, NC--Residents of Mecklenburg County are invited to participate in a special online survey about greenways conducted by the staff of Carolina Thread Trail. This survey will help determine public sentiment about the need for future greenways, their importance, plus how and how often they would be used.
The survey will help guide the Mecklenburg County Steering Committee of the Carolina Thread Trail in making choices on future routes and destinations. Staff hopes hundreds of citizens will participate.
This survey is open to all citizens of Mecklenburg County. It will be open through the end of August at www.parkandrec.com, click on the Carolina Thread Trail Survey link in the right hand column. When the survey is complete, results will be made public and presented to boards and committees drawing the plan for Mecklenburg's part of Carolina Thread Trail.
The Carolina Thread Trail is a regional trail envisioned to run through 15 counties. It seeks preserve green space and connect people and places. Some observers call it a "green interstate system.” It will incorporate local greenways in various counties and communities and focus on making connections to significant regional destinations that attract residents and tourists.
The thread trail staff are already working with Mecklenburg and the other counties. Gaston and York Counties were the first to adopt their thread trail plans. Cabarrus County is wrapping up its process this summer. Lincoln, Chester and Cleveland Counties have begun their planning process.
Mecklenburg County adopted three general threat trail routes in its 2008 Greenway Master Plan. They run on existing and planned greenways along Mallard Creek, Long Creek and Little Sugar Creek. The survey will help identify other routes to be part of the Carolina Thread Trail. Planners hope to adopt a complete thread trail plan in Mecklenburg County by the end of the year.
For further information, please contact Jason Pauling, Senior Greenway Planner for Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department: 704 353-0504 or Jason.paruling@mecklenburgCountyNC.gov.
