Weaving Communities Together
Introduction
Iredell County, along with its communities, Love Valley, Union Grove, Harmony, Mooresville, Troutman and Statesville, is launching an effort to develop a countywide master plan for the Carolina Thread Trail (The Thread).
The Thread is a network of trails, greenways, blueways and conservation corridors linking 15 counties in North and South Carolina. It offers a multitude of opportunities for biking, hiking, fishing, paddling and connecting with nature.
The Thread is made up of segments that are designed, built and owned by the counties and towns through which the trail network is woven. All Iredell residents are encouraged to participate in the planning process, as citizen participation is vital to the successful development of a final plan. The public is invited to participate through online and written surveys and through a series of public meetings.
A public survey is available for citizen input (click here or see the link on the left side of this page). This website will also include updates as the project progresses and has an interactive mapping feature for additional feedback options.
Beginning June 29, a series of public meetings will be held throughout the County to gather additional public input. The meetings will take place from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on the following dates:
Tuesday, June 29th at the Iredell County Agricultural Resource Center
444 Bristol Drive in Statesville
Wednesday, July 14th at the Union Grove Community Center
1869 West Memorial Highway in Harmony
Thursday, July 15th at the Lowe’s Family YMCA
170 Joe V. Knox Avenue in Mooresville
The purpose of the Greenway Master Plan is threefold: (1) identify the conceptual routes for The Thread through the county and its incorporated jurisdictions, (2) identify the broader trail network to which The Thread will connect and (3) develop an action plan for implementation. The goal at the conclusion of the process is to have a publically-adopted, countywide master plan.
A steering committee made up of staff and local volunteers leads the Iredell effort. Assisting is Alta Planning + Design, a nationally-recognized firm specializing in park and trail development. Also assisting is The Lawrence Group’s Town Planning and Landscape Architecture Studio which specializes in park, trail and recreation development.
The Thread organization supports the County by providing catalytic funding to help design and build trails and assistance in attracting state and federal funding to the project. The Thread also provides communities with the educational and technical resources needed to build the regional trail system.
For more information, check back on this site or contact Ron Smith, Director of Planning and Development, at 704-832-2322 or rsmith@co.iredell.nc.us.
About The Carolina Thread Trail
The Carolina Thread Trail (The Thread) is a 15-county, two state initiative designed to inspire and facilitate the creation of a regional network of trails, blueways, and conservation corridors that is growing to link more than 2.3 million citizens. With technical resources and catalytic funding from The Thread, local communities plan and implement their portions of this green interstate system. Catawba Lands Conservancy is the lead agency for The Thread, working in partnership with The Foundation For The Carolinas, and many local partners and land trusts.
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