Raleigh Greenway is it Contiguous

Background:

For those visiting Raleigh and new residents of Raleigh should be aware of the wonderful park system and the “Capitol Area Greenway.”

The “Capitol Area Greenway” is a project in process. Started in March 1974 by the city council of Raleigh it has a master plan to make sure that there is open space for residents throughout the city. It is being built one trail, one park and one community area at a time.

Today the city boasts more than 50 miles of trails connecting many of the more than 3000 acres of city park land.

In 1996 Hurricane Fran badly damaged the parks and trails throughout the city. A clearing and rebuilding was required the years immediately following the storm. Today the city is well underway on its project to create links between the greenways and realize the original plan. Many of the trails are still to be connected, while those that are create wonderful off road access to many parts of the city for bikers, hikers and runners.

Crabtree Creek Trails – Report Special 09 03 2006

It has bee quite a period of time since Alberto dumped a lot of water on Raleigh. Over seven inches were reported at the airport. Since that time the city Parks and Recreation workers have done a fantastic job of cleaning up.

The storm made a real mess of some trails such as the Buckeye Trail, Shelly Lake Trail and Lake Lynn Trail. These trails have all been restored.

But not all trails are back in action.

Recently I have been traveling the trails and the places that connect them. The local paper, the N&O, reported some time back that the trails were contiguous for more than 10 miles. Having walked many of these trails, I was a bit taken aback.

Contiguous, how could that be? Except for a few trails most have a clearly defined beginning and a clearly defined end.

Though, in my opinion, there reporting is right up there with some of the national reporting that in that it isn’t exactly true.

On the other hand, it isn’t exactly untrue, in that you can travel from point to point, if you are willing to include some roads and sidewalks into the Greenway.

Starting at Long Street Trail (number 3 -2006) to Shelly Lake Trail (number 26-2006) to Iron Woods Trail (number 12-2006) to North Hills Trail (number 21-2006) to Alleghany Trail (number 1-2006) (through Lassiter Mill Park) to Fallon Creek Trail (number 9-2006) to Middle Crabtree Creek Trail (number 19-2006) to Buckeye Trail (number 5-2006) ending on Milburnie Road.

Sounds good when you hear it in the press, but it just isn’t so. The first problem occurs on Allegany Trail. The first half is fine for bike riders but they should be told to exit right after they pass under the automobile bridge onto Allegany. Then they should go left and keep bearing left until they see the end of the trail. The last portion of this trail is not suitable for bikes, carriages or skates. There are no signs to show the detour.

(connection 1)
From the end of Allegany Trail to the beginning of Fallon Creek Trail is interesting. You need to stay on the road following the left side as the road names change though the pavement is contiguous. You will pass a school and then come to a marked path that enters into the back of Old Lassiter Mill Road, follow this path. Follow the trail through the park to Lassiter Mill Road.

(If coming the other way, the trail to Hertford is right at the back of the turnaround at the far end of the road.)

(connection 2)

On leaving Lassiter Mill go left across the bridge and cross over Lassiter Mill Road at the cross walk. This will deposit you at the start/end of Fallon Creek Trail. This is a very short connection.

(connection 3)

At the end of Fallon Creek Trail you will come to point where the trail ends on Overbrook Drive. You will be dumped on a side walk. Stay on the left side of the road until you pass a school. You will eventually find a left arrow that goes through a short patch of wood. You will find yourself on the other side of the school. You will be on Anderson Dr. You will need to cross Anderson Drive and go a short distance up Oxford Rd. There is a standard entrance for Middle Crabtree Creek Trail there and you will be back on the true green way trail for a bit.

(Closed area 1)

Middle Crabtree Creek Trail goes from Oxford Rd. to Raleigh Blvd. However, since Hurricane Alberto the section from Capital Blvd. to Raleigh Blvd has been closed. If you are on bike you can still reach the remaining section of the trail.

One way is cross Capital Blvd at the light (this is where the trail is closed. Go up the right side of Capital Blvd to Yonkers Rd. Take a right onto Yonkers until you reach Raleigh Blvd. Then follow Raleigh Blvd (right) South to Crabtree Blvd. The entry to Buckeye trail is on the other side.

(connection 4)

When they get Middle Crabtree Creek Trail open the trail will end on Raleigh Blvd just up the road from Crabtree Blvd. Unfortunately you will still have to cross at the light, though when the trail is fully open you will go under Capital Blvd.

As can be seen the trail is not truly contiguous for the longer route. You can go a slightly shorter route that is contiguous if instead of going from North Hills Trail (number 21-2006) to Alleghany Trail (number 1-2006) you instead go onto Crabtree Valley Trail (number 7-2006) to Crabtree Oak Park Trail (6-2006). It’s a little shorter, but it is contiguous.

When the N&O pronounced these trails contiguous it was a half truth. You can get from end to end of these trails. But you can’t do it by staying on the greenway. The signage is a major problem as people unfamiliar with the start points can be within yards and not know it.

Where Fallon Creek and Middle Crabtree Creek come near each other it is really a shame that there is neither good road signage nor maps of the proximate trails at the entry points. Because the entries are intentionally recessed, you can be standing in front of one entry see someone in front of the other entry and still not know about that other entry.

The entrances are nicely done. The trails (the open ones) are well kept. It can be a real trick to locate parking, start points, end points and locations within the trail. The maps put out recently by Parks and Recreation is a real improvement. Unfortunately Raleigh residents and visitors out on the trails lack appropriate information sources when on the trails.

The good thing is that each year there is some improvement in the trails overall. After walking many of the older trails for the last decade I can see improvements. There are more trails with benches for folks to rest. The trails are well kept and many that were just dirt are paved. Shelly Lake and Lake Lynn have excellent signage. Trails are being built that will provide the same kind of greenway access to a much larger portion of the population.

It doesn’t mean that the city shouldn’t help out. Getting better signage, especially where urban sidewalks and roads connect trails, should be part of the larger city responsibility.

If the Parks and Recreation were to get together with there streets and sidewalks counterparts and have select streets and sidewalks declared urban greenways and appropriate signage were provided the problem could be solved with little cost and a great deal of fanfare.