The City of Gastonia will host a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction for the Highland Branch Greenway extension, which is part of the City’s officially adopted Greenway Plan.
WHEN: Thursday, October 19 | 4 p.m.
WHERE: 1750 Rankin Lake Road | Gastonia, NC
WHY: The Highland Branch Greenway is the “missing link” that will connect Rankin Lake to Downtown Gastonia. Through the Carolina Thread Trail, it will also help connect the existing City greenways (Avon/Catawba) to other parts of the City to expand its greenway system.
HOW: Plans are to extend the Avon-Catawba greenway about a half mile to the south, connecting it to two residential developments that are under construction.
The goal is to connect all the City’s greenways, creating a network of trails that span across Gastonia. Benefits of the project include: creating
connectivity of parks, alternative transportation network, healthy communities, and additional tourism assets.
Project Cost: $889,164.09
Funding: This project is funded by the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program through the Federal Highway Administration.
-
-
- 80% of the project cost will be funded through CMAQ
- 20% will be funded by a local match by the City of Gastonia.
-
Trail Length: 3,750 feet or 0.7 miles
Construction: Estimated start: end of 2023 | 360 days to complete
Visit this link for more details about the project.
The Carolina Thread Trail is a regional network of trails that connect 29 million people in 15 counties in North and South Carolina. The Thread Trail is an example of unprecedented regional collaboration that works to connect people and communities to nature and each other through its 1,610 miles of trails, greenways, and blueways.
Gastonia, N.C., just minutes west of Charlotte, is one of the area’s best places to live and work with an ideal combination of location, size, and livability. Gastonia is the largest of Gaston County’s 13 municipalities and one of the largest cities in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Selected as an All-America City three times, Gastonia’s desirable quality of life is the result of its beautiful natural surroundings, friendly neighborhoods, responsive government and vibrant business environment.