Little Sugar Creek Greenway and Stream Enhancement, Polk Historic Site to South Carolina State Line
Little Sugar Creek Greenway and Stream Enhancement, Polk Historic Site to South Carolina State Line
Construction is complete on the last link of Little Sugar Creek Greenway heading south in Mecklenburg County. The greenway trail starts at the James K. Polk Historic Site and continues to the South Carolina state line. The trail is 12 feet wide, approximately 3 miles in length and will offer trail users the experience of traversing through steep woodlands. An elevated boardwalk and monument at the state line will also be highlights of the project. Pedestrian access points are available at the President James K Polk Historic Site (public parking also available), Stockdale Court, Lake Drive at Pineville Lake Park/Belle Johnston Center (public parking also available), Overlook Ridge Street, and Gilroy Drive (In Lancaster County, SC).
The trail connects with the newly constructed sections of Little Sugar Creek Greenway (Tyvola Rd. to the James K. Polk Historic Site), which are part of the Carolina Thread Trail and also the Cross Charlotte Trail (north of I-485). A contiguous trail exists from the South Carolina State Line north to Cordelia Park. Future plans for the Cross Charlotte Trail include extending the trail to Cabarrus County.
A steam enhancement project has been completed along with the greenway construction. This section of the creek has not been dredged and straightened like the other sections of Little Sugar Creek, and like the majority of large streams and creeks throughout the County and the country. Due to an increase in the velocity of flow during rain events due to increased stormwater runoff, the banks of the stream have suffered severe erosion, and the stream was incised (meaning the stream bottom has lowered and is no longer connected to the floodplain). The stream empties into Sugar Creek in South Carolina, and eventually, into the Catawba River. Heavy storms transport hundreds of tons of sediment yearly, which impairs our drinking water source.
The improvements that will be made to the stream include stabilization of the banks by reshaping the stream channel from a rectangular cross section into a more natural, and hydraulically effective trapezoidal shape which will reduce sedimentation downstream.
Greenway Master Plan:
Documents
If you have any questions regarding this project, please contact:
Gwen Cook, Planner Mecklenburg County Park and Rec
Gwen.Cook@mecklenburgcountync.gov
980-406-1504