With the help of two state agencies, NCDOT and the Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF), Watauga County and the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority (WCTDA) expect to advance plans for developing a greenway along the South Fork New River. With the commitment of $135,000 from NDCOT and $35,000 from CWMTF, the County and WCTDA will be manage three projects: 1) Construct 3,000 feet of greenway, 2) Engineer and permit a pedestrian underpass for the Hwy. 421 bridge, and 3) Develop a South Fork New River greenway plan.
Construct 3,000 Feet of Greenway. Watauga County currently owns 3,000 feet of river frontage along the New River just north, or downstream, of Brookshire Park. $95,000 from NCDOT will go toward the development of a paved, 10′ wide multi-use greenway that extends from the existing Brookshire walking loop and meanders beyond the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex for more than a 1/2 mile.
Engineer and Permit a Pedestrian Underpass for the Hwy. 421 Bridge. How do we connect the existing five-mile Boone Greenway to Brookshire Park? Go under Hwy. 421 of course. NCDOT has committed $45,000 toward the engineering and permitting of this underpass. The goal: create a “shovel ready” project. With this status, Watauga County moves into an excellent position to receive future NCDOT bike and pedestrian construction dollars for this project. Each year, 10% of NCDOT funding must go toward bike and pedestrian efforts. The stage is being set.
South Fork Greenway Plan. Thanks to a $35,000 grant from CWMTF, the WCTDA will lead efforts to further explore greenway opportunities along the South Fork New River.
As highlighted at the WCTDA's Outdoor Recreation Summit in March 2010, the South Fork New River Greenway presents a tremendous opportunity for local citizens and visitors.
Is there anything in the plan regarding a connector from the Greenway Trails to the Rocky Knob trails, providing a way to bike to the park from town?
Ryan,
In the next several weeks Joe Furman (Planning Director) and I will meet with NCDOT officials to discuss the pedestrian underpass at the Highway 421 bridge. In addition to the underpass, a major point of discussion will be how to best get bikers and pedestrian across the river and then to Rocky Knob Park. This connectivity will certainly be included in the Outdoor Recreation Plan, which the WCTDA will soon publish. Also, this ultimate connection was a highlight in the $500k state grant we received for Rocky Knob. I think once Rocky Knob opens and the state is able to see the popularity, then they’ll become even more interested in helping us achieve this connection. Thanks for the comment.