Communities around the Charlotte region are building greenways for residents to use for walking, bicycling, hiking and even skating.
The Carolina Thread Trail has played an important role in making these new pathways a growing transportation and recreation resource. The Foundation For The Carolinas helped initiate that project and The Catawba Lands Conservancy now leads the effort, which aims to create a regional system of connecting trails, each built with local community planning.
Since 2007, 93 miles have been completed on the Thread Trail, part of a goal to complete 1,200 to 1,500 miles by the end of the project.
Enjoy these photographs by Nancy Pierce showing people enjoying the greenways of our region.
Children and adults gather near the Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, S.C., April 2010.A biker rides along the Toby Creek Greenway at UNC Charlotte in March 2011.Several people walk along the Toby Creek Greenway at UNC Charlotte in March 2011.Walkers stroll along the Toby Creek Greenway at UNC Charlotte (March 2011).Bikers ride along the Little Sugar Creek greenway in August 2010.Two runners jog along the Little Sugar Creek Greenway in March 2012.Community leaders pose to celebrate opening the most recent part of Charlotte’s Little Sugar Creek Greenway in March 2012.A couple walks along the Piedmont Medical Center Trail in November 2011.A couple strolls beside the Catawba River on the Piedmont Medical Center Trail in November 2011.A couple walks along the Piedmont Medical Center Trail in November 2011.A family walks along the Piedmont Medical Center Trail in November 2011.A woman walks along the Piedmont Medical Center Trail in November 2011.Two friends jog with a young child along the Piedmont Medical Center Trail at Riverwalk in Rock Hill (November 2011).A family enjoys a concert by a guitar player beside the Oakboro city trail on a cool day in October 2010.A man walks along the Troutman Rail-Trail in August 2007.Two bicyclists take the Stewart Creek Greenway into downtown Charlotte in October 2011.Bicycle commuters take Stewart Creek Greenway into downtown Charlotte in October 2011.A couple strolls along the McEachern Greenway in Concord in May 2010.A bridge allows pedestrians and riders to go under the road at McEachern Greenway in May 2010.Bikers ride along the McEachern Greenway in Concord in May 2010.A couple walks along the Martha Cloninger Rail-Trail near downtown Lincolnton in June 2007.A group walks along Little Sugar Creek Greenway Trail in Mecklenburg County in May 2005.Barbara Harlow and son Robert Smith along the Little Sugar Creek Greenway in Charlotte’s Belmont neighborhood in April 2012.Carolina Thread Trail sign in Chester County, S.C., in May 2010.A group exercises along Gastonia’s Highland Rail Trail in May 2010.Carolina Thread Trail marker in York County, S.C., September 2009.Children play along the South Fork River in September 2009 near what’s now the Carolina Thread Trail.Runners jog along the Broad River Greenway in April 2010.A group of runners passes two boys on the Broad River Greenway in April 2010.View from the Broad River Greenway in Cleveland County (April 2010).A family walks at the Anne Springs Close Greenway in April 2010.Face-painting at Anne Springs Close Greenway in April 2010.Faires/Coltharp cabin (circa 1810) on grounds of Anne Springs Close Greenway in April 2010.Children play next to the Carolina Thread Trail sign at the Anne Springs Close Greenway in April 2010.
