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 near completion on the last link of Little Sugar Creek Greenway heading south in Mecklenburg County. The greenway construction 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 will be available at the James K Polk Historic Site (public parking also available), Stockdale Court, Pineville Lake Park/Belle Johnston Center (public parking also available), Huntley Glen Drive, and Gilroy Road (In Lancaster County, SC).
The trail will connect 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). Once trail construction is completed near the Park Road Shopping Center, a contiguous trail will exist 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.
Construction is anticipated to be complete in Spring 2023.
We have much to look forward to.
Mecklenburg County is working for you!
Greenway Master Plan:
Documents
If you have any questions regarding this project, please contact:
Gwen Cook, Planner Mecklenburg County Park and Rec
980-406-1504