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45-747: Greenways are narrow strips of land, planted and managed to provide both human recreation and wildlife habitat. Greenways along streams, such as Little Sugar Creek, improve water quality and help control flooding. There are about 37 miles of developed greenways in Mecklenburg County, of which this is only one. The two urban sections of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway were championed by Central Piedmont Community College president Tony Zeiss and together provide five unbroken miles of paved walkway from East 7th Street southward to Brandywine Road. Unlike many large cities, Charlotte

90-496: A footpath and/or bikeway within a linear park . In urban design , they are a component of planning for bicycle commuting and walkability . The British organisation Sustrans , which is involved in creating cycleways and greenways, states that a traffic-free route "must be designed on the assumption that everyone will use it", and measures taken "to assist visually and mobility impaired users". The American author Charles Little in his 1990 book, Greenways for America, defines

135-408: A bond plan was approved; the money was used to buy property along the stream bed, begin construction or paved walkways, restore wetlands , build water gardens , and generally launch a major stream restoration project. In the end, the urban section of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway cost $ 43 million. Although the master plan remained the guideline, little was done until 2000 when a 10-year growth plan

180-427: A designated station ( CPCC Central Campus station ). Originally named "Northeast Campus", it is located near Reedy Creek Nature Reserve and was opened in the summer of 2002 with two buildings totaling 50,000 sq ft (4,600 m ). Built to relieve overcrowding at Central Campus, this location's focus area is horticulture due to its hilly and shady terrain, close proximity to local parks, and ease of access to

225-561: A greenway as: A linear open space established along either a natural corridor, such as a riverfront, stream valley or ridgeline, or overland along a railroad right-of-way converted to recreational use, a canal , scenic road or other route. It is a natural or landscaped course for pedestrian or bicycle passage; an open-space connector linking parks, nature reserves, cultural features, or historic sites with each other and with populated areas; locally certain strip or linear parks designated as parkway or greenbelt . The term greenway comes from

270-426: A greenway that provides a public right-of-way along the edge of the sea , open to both walkers and cyclists. Foreshoreways resemble promenades and boardwalks . Foreshoreways are usually concerned with the idea of sustainable transport . A foreshoreway is accessible to both pedestrians and cyclists and gives them the opportunity to move unimpeded along the seashore. Dead end paths that offer public access only to

315-473: A linear park along the coast is known as a foreshoreway . [REDACTED] Media related to Greenways at Wikimedia Commons Central Piedmont Community College Central Piedmont Community College ( Central Piedmont ) is a public community college in Charlotte, North Carolina . With an enrollment of more than 40,000 students annually, Central Piedmont is the second-largest community college in

360-720: A snack stand. This section connects with the urban section through the Morehead Street underpass. The first part going south is a straight section directly on the banks of Sugar Creek known as the Liz Hair Nature Walk, completed in September 2005. It extends for .65 miles from Morehead Street to East Boulevard and is adjacent to the Carolinas Medical Center complex. The next section runs from East Boulevard to Princeton Avenue, passing by

405-613: Is in the Elizabeth neighborhood (adjacent to Independence Park and the Little Sugar Creek Greenway ). The campus is set up more like a traditional university campus, housing many buildings on many different blocks. Currently, certain buildings on campus are being expanded and renovated, while others are being replaced all together. The campus is serviced by the CityLynx Gold Line streetcar, with

450-522: Is located in southeast Mecklenburg County , in Matthews, North Carolina . The campus opened with a 116,000 sq ft (10,800 m ) building on a 32 acres, aimed at relieving the overcrowding at the Central Campus. The campus features a book store, computer lab and a food court in a three-story building. The campus was renamed and increased to 220,000 sq ft (20,000 m ) with

495-781: Is not sited on or near a sea, lake, or significant river; its hydrogeography is based on small streams and creeks, Little Sugar Creek being perhaps the most prominent. The name of Little Sugar Creek (which has also been called Sugar Creek, a name that has also been applied to what is now called Irwin Creek) derives from the Sugaree tribe indigenous to the area. Running through some of Charlotte's oldest neighborhoods, over time parts of Little Sugar Creek became hidden by houses, factories, parking lots, riprap , highways, and culverts. The stream also became very polluted by runoff from factories and sewers, and litter. As recently as 2000 Little Sugar Creek

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540-531: Is often referred to as the wet-sand area (see Right of way (transit)#Foreshore for a fuller discussion). A linear park is a park in an urban or suburban setting that is substantially longer than it is wide. Some are rail trails ("rails to trails"), that are disused railroad beds converted to recreational use, while others use strips of public land next to canals , streams , extended defensive walls , electrical lines , highways and shorelines . They are also often described as greenways. In Australia,

585-466: Is vegetated but inappropriate for public use, such as agricultural land. Where the historic rural road network has been enlarged and redesigned to favor high-speed automobile travel, greenways provide an alternative for people who are elderly, young, less mobile or seeking a reflective pace. Tom Turner analyzed greenways in London looking for common patterns among successful examples. He was inspired by

630-622: The Charlotte Nature Museum and through Freedom Park . Next is a so-called overland connector which utilizes existing sidewalk for .42 miles along Jameston Drive. The paved part of the greenway resumes again at Hillside Avenue and continues on to Brandywine Road, ending behind the Park Road Shopping Center . This last section features wetland filtration ponds and explanatory signage. Completed in 2018, this 1.5 mile section connects Marion Diehl Park and

675-565: The European Greenways Association , is "ease of passage": that is that they have "either low or zero gradient", so that they can be used by all "types of users, including mobility impaired people". In Southern England , the term also refers to ancient trackways or green lanes , especially those found on chalk downlands , like the Ridgeway . Greenways are vegetated, linear, and multi-purpose. They incorporate

720-689: The Gold Coast Seaway . The network includes 36 kilometres (22 mi) of poor, medium and high quality pathways. Others include: The Chicago Lakefront Trail , the Dubai Marina , the East River Greenway , New Plymouth Coastal Walkway , and the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway . Public rights of way frequently exist on the foreshore of beaches throughout the world. In legal discussions the foreshore

765-751: The North Carolina Community College System and the largest in the Charlotte metropolitan area . The college has six campuses and three centers and offers nearly 300 degree, diploma and certificate programs. The college was founded in 1963, the year the North Carolina General Assembly passed the state community college bill. It is the result of a merger between Mecklenburg College and the Central Industrial Education Center. From 1923 to 1959, Central High School

810-454: The green in green belt and the way in parkway , implying a recreational or pedestrian use rather than a typical street corridor, as well as an emphasis on introducing or maintaining vegetation, in a location where such vegetation is otherwise lacking. Some greenways include community gardens as well as typical park-style landscaping of trees and shrubs. They also tend to have a mostly contiguous pathway. Greenways resemble linear parks , but

855-399: The pattern language technique of architect Christopher Alexander . A pattern language is an organized and coherent set of "patterns", each of which describes a problem and the core of a solution that can be used in many ways within a specific field of expertise. Turner concluded there are seven types, or 'patterns', of greenway which he named: In Australia, a foreshoreway (or oceanway) is

900-553: The Central High building, used for administrative offices and admissions, and provided scholarship money. A rededication took place September 30, 2007, after restoration of the original facade. WTVI Charlotte's PBS affiliate, now run by Central Piedmont Community College, was to become a laboratory for the college's new associate degree program launching in August 2015 in broadcasting and production technology. Central Campus

945-639: The Central Industrial Education Center and the black Mecklenburg College combined to become Central Piedmont Community College. The three-story Central High building is now the oldest building on the CPCC campus. CPCC trustees in July 2002 approved changing the building's name from Garinger Hall to the Central High School building, and a fund-raising campaign for the building's renovation was planned. The Central High School Legacy Fund funded renovation of

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990-712: The Levine Campus houses the largest enrollment of this kind of all Central Piedmont campuses. The first of Central Piedmont's satellite campuses, it was opened in 1990 as the North Center, eventually growing with the addition of the Public Safety building in 1996 and being renamed the North Campus. The campus is located north of Charlotte, in Huntersville, North Carolina . This campus is home to

1035-759: The Madison Park neighborhood to Park Road Park , Huntingtowne Farms Park, and the Backyard Trails network—an extensive mountain biking trail network maintained by Tarheel Trailblazers. This segment also passes by the Sugar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. In 2020 the .79 mile segment of the greenway located in Huntingtowne Farms Park was expanded to 2.2 miles providing connectivity to I-485 and Carolina Pavilion. This expansion included access from

1080-488: The Morehead Street underpass. It is the most highly developed section of the greenway and incorporates paved walkways, stonework walls and plazas, fountains, dining, many newly planted trees, large decorative rocks, gardens, public event areas, numerous statues and sculptures, and a clock tower. There are overpasses and underpasses to facilitate unimpeded walking and biking. Included also are the usual park amenities such as benches, bike racks, restrooms, decorative lampposts, and

1125-633: The North Carolina Department of Transportation praised the greenway "for providing Charlotteans with an accessible place to run, walk and bike," and called it "an example for the rest of the state." The Charlotte Observer called the Little Sugar Creek Greenway a "sweet resurrection". Fish have returned to the stream; and ducks , Canada geese , and herons are often seen. The mixture of natural restoration and urban redevelopment draws "gushing praise"—although some people, such as Mecklenburg County commissioner Bill James, have criticized

1170-686: The Park Crossing and Starmount neighborhoods. This segment of the greenway is known as a haven for hawks and barred owls . In 2021 an additional 1.8 miles of the greenway was open. This segment continued the greenway south from I-485 to the President James K. Polk State Historic Site in Pineville, North Carolina . This segment provides connectivity to Marsh Park and Carolina Place Mall . The final southern segment of The Little Sugar Creek Greenway will extend 3.3 miles from this segment at

1215-764: The President James K. Polk State Historic Site to the South Carolina State border. This greenway section runs from President James K. Polk Historic Site in Pineville NC all the way to Gilroy Dr in Indian Land SC/Regent Park Fort Mill SC area. This greenway extension provides connectivity within several communities and makes easy access to Charlotte NC/Pineville NC. This greenway also makes accessing parks and other greenways easy. This greenway not only improved

1260-442: The aim to make the new Levine Campus into a full-fledged college campus. In late 2005 the Levine Campus grew again, when NASCAR owner Rick Hendrick donated money to build the $ 4 million, 25,000 sq ft (2,300 m ) facility, 'Joe Hendrick Center for Automotive Technology'. With the construction of I-485 nearby, the college has expanded the role for the campus, particularly for computer and information technology, as

1305-412: The center city. Bucking the general trend, Charlotte experienced growth in the central core while other cities were losing population to the suburbs. As a result, "The Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Department embarked on an ambitious update to its earlier 1980 and 1991 Greenways Plans to not only extend and create new greenway corridors, but also improve established corridors." Finally, in 1999

1350-625: The college's Public Safety and Transportation Systems programs. In 2011 the college renamed the campus to the Merancas Campus, after longtime donors Casey and Anke Mermans and their Merancas Foundation. Harris Campus opened in the West Charlotte area in 2001. It is located next to the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport . The campus houses meeting and convention spaces. Central Piedmont

1395-506: The conditions of Little Sugar Creek in Pineville, it improves the lifestyle of residents within Mecklenburg County, NC and other surrounding counties such as York County, SC and Lancaster County, SC. The Trail of History is a collection of privately subsidized bronze statues situated in midtown (between 7th Street and Morehead Street) along the Little Sugar Creek Greenway. The statues are intended to commemorate individuals who contributed to

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1440-464: The final segment connecting Brandywine Road and Tyvola Road. A paved walkway follows Little Sugar Creek and extends for .95 miles from Parkwood Avenue on the southern border of Cordelia Park to Greenway Crescent Lane and East 12th street just south of Alexander Street Park . Gulf Coast spiny softshell turtles can be seen in this part of the creek. An overland route that follows 10th street to North McDowell street to 7th street provides connectivity to

1485-758: The history of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. In 2005 the first statue of Captain James Jack, a legendary figure in the story of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence , was installed in Elizabeth Park. As of 2021, eight statues have been installed with accompanying information plaques. Additional individuals include: Thomas Spratt & King Hagler , James Buchanan Duke , Jane Wilkes, among others. Statues include works from notable artists such as: Jane DeDecker , Ed Dwight , Chas Fagan , and Antonio Tobias Mendez . Gene Conti of

1530-1082: The latter are only found in urban and suburban environments. The European Greenways Association defines it as Communication routes reserved exclusively for non-motorized journeys, developed in an integrated manner which enhances both the environment and quality of life of the surrounding area. These routes should meet satisfactory standards of width, gradient and surface condition to ensure that they are both user-friendly and low-risk for users of all abilities. Though wildlife corridors are also greenways, because they have conservation as their primary purpose, they are not necessarily managed as parks for recreational use, and may not include facilities such as public trails. Charles Little in his 1990 book, Greenways for America", describes five general types of greenways: Greenways are found in rural areas as well as urban. Corridors redeveloped as greenways often travel through both city and country, connecting them together. Even in rural areas, greenways provide residents access to open land managed as parks, as contrasted with land that

1575-544: The main focus of the Cato Campus is still horticulture and turf management. Opened in winter of 1998 as the Southwest Campus, this satellite campus is located on Hebron St. off of Nations Ford Rd. in southwest Charlotte. The campus focuses on construction technologies, welding, HVAC systems, graphic design and arts, and general studies. Opened as the 'South Campus' in the fall of 1998, this satellite campus

1620-652: The ocean are not part of a foreshoreway. A foreshoreway corridor often includes a number of traffic routes that provide access along an oceanfront, including: A major example is The Gold Coast Oceanway along beaches in Gold Coast, Queensland , a shared use pedestrian and cyclist pathway on the Gold Coast, connecting the Point Danger lighthouse on the New South Wales and Queensland border to

1665-905: The past, trash–particularly plastic bags-remains a problem along Sugar Creek. In 2015 Richard Maschal of the Charlotte Observer reported, "The creek is festooned with such detritus, particularly near the bridges spanning Morehead Street and Kings Drive." Greenway (landscape) A greenway is usually a shared-use path along a strip of undeveloped land, in an urban or rural area, set aside for recreational use or environmental protection. Greenways are frequently created out of disused railways , canal towpaths , utility company rights of way , or derelict industrial land. Greenways can also be linear parks , and can serve as wildlife corridors . The path's surface may be paved and often serves multiple users: walkers, runners, bicyclists, skaters and hikers. A characteristic of greenways, as defined by

1710-420: The project for its cost. James compared the project to proposed uptown baseball stadiums, asserting that the county overpaid for land for stream restoration and helped "well-connected developers". However, one business owner said that sites along the greenway offer the "best view of Charlotte from Charlotte—a view that will remain unencumbered forever." Despite being a vast improvement over the toxic pollution of

1755-464: The rest of the county. It is also located in the University City section of Charlotte, the campus is only 3 miles from UNCC, providing close proximity for students of both institutions to take classes at either campus. In the summer of 2005, the campus was renamed after Wayland H. Cato, a retailer who donates to the college. The campus also expanded and has since added another building, but

1800-463: The southern part of the greenway. The overland route will be replaced by a dedicated segment. The "urban section" of the greenway runs for 1.29 miles along Sugar Creek in uptown Charlotte and was completed in April 2012. It begins at 7th Street, goes southward past Central Piedmont Community College , passes through Thompson Park , connects to the showpiece Midtown Park at Pearl Park Way, and ends at

1845-564: Was "the most polluted stream in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, a fetid stew of runoff and industrial waste trickling beneath parking decks and buildings on the fringe of downtown." Businesses dumped waste straight into its water, the fumes so noxious they were said to peel the paint off nearby buildings. Moreover, flood-prone buildings had to be razed, and much of the stream was covered by concrete which had to be removed. The pollution problem began to be solved when straight-piping of wastes

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1890-486: Was created in 1980 involving 20 creeks and streams. The final report was based on the graduate thesis for Joan Sigmon, a geography major at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte . The idea of a comprehensive greenway system was also promoted by Mecklenburg county commissioner Tom Ray who authored the concept known as "Sugar Creek Projection 70". Demographics provided further impetus for preserving green space in

1935-558: Was formulated. The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced the completion of the Charlotte portion of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway at a celebration on April 24, 2012. The completed parts of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway can be divided into two major sections going downstream from north to south. The longest continuous segments run from 7th Street to Brandywine Road and from Tyvola Road to President James K. Polk State Historic Site. In December 2019 construction began on

1980-427: Was located on Elizabeth Avenue at Kings Drive, where Central Piedmont Community College is now located. In 1959, its students moved into the new Garinger High School . With the building vacant, Charlotte College (later University of North Carolina at Charlotte , UNCC) used the space. Starting in 1959, the Central Industrial Education Center shared the old high school. As a result of the 1963 N.C. Community College Act,

2025-547: Was outlawed in 1998; nevertheless Little Sugar Creek Greenway became the most expensive stream restoration in Mecklenburg county. In 1968 Charlotte city council member Jerry Tuttle, inspired by San Antonio's River Walk , proposed an urban "Charlotte waterfront" on Sugar Creek. In 1974 the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Commission first studied the feasibility of a greenway system. A master plan

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