REGIONAL LOOPS The Cape Fear Regional Trails Plan includes routes that will connect to destinations such as Lake Waccamaw State Park and Carolina Beach State Park. The regional routes connect into a loop system that will link the Fayetteville and Wilmington areas.
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NATIONAL AND STATE ROUTES Mountains-to-Sea State Trail East Coast Greenway Mountains-to-Sea State Trail - Coastal Crescent The Cape Fear Regional Trails Plan is part of the larger Southeastern North Carolina Regional Trails Plan. The four Councils of Government in the region each developed a trails
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plan. Trail systems of statewide or regional significance—such
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as the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail or the East Coast Greenway
CAPE FEAR REGION
—are part of the larger vision for connecting people, places, and natural resources.
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Cape Fear Region
Regional Routes
Main Street Communities
Forests
Park/Forest
Area Routes
Cultural Sites
State and National Trail Systems
Municipalities
Local Connector
State Parks
BACK COVER
CAPE FEAR REGION SEGMENTS The Cape Fear Regional Trails Plan features several segments that also
IMPLEMENTION PLAN Segment
connect within the larger trails plan for Southeastern North Carolina. The segments are shown on the map below, and implementation partners per segment are listed in the table to the right. After
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adopting the regional plan, partners will study segments to determine more specific alignments, right-of-way needs, and construction opportunities.
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Strategies
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Unique Regional Features
The Cape Fear Regional Trails Plan connects urban centers to destinations such as State Parks and protected forests. As plan
Planning; Coordination;
East Coast Greenway; Holly
Funding; Right of Way;
Shelter Game Lands; MST-
Trail Development
Coastal Crescent
Planning; Coordination;
Holly Shelter Game Lands;
Funding; Right of Way;
Mountains-to-Sea State Trail-
Natural Surface Trails
Trail Development
Coastal Crescent
2 ½ - 3’ wide, typically constructed of dirt.
East Coast Greenway; Carolina
Often located in a wooded environment
Beach State Park; Ferry Boat;
and/or close to bodies of water, and away
Gullah Geechee Heritage
from roadways.
Planning; Coordination;
ABOUT THE REGION
TRAIL TYPES
Funding; Right of Way;
corridors are developed, trails will take on different forms. Some trails will paved and others on natural surface - all are intended to be separated from the roadway.
The Cape Fear Region encompasses
Trail Development
Columbus, Brunswick, and Pender
Planning; Coordination;
NC Rail line; Northeast Cape
Funding; Right of Way;
Fear River; Cliffs of the Neuse
Trail Development
State Park
concrete or asphalt.
Planning; Coordination;
East Coast Greenway; Carolina
Often located within utility and/or stream
Funding; Right of Way;
Bay Lakes; State Parks
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counties; the City of Wilmington; and several small cities and towns. The
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Corridor
Paved Greenway Trails 12 – 16’ wide, typically constructed of
easements, and away from roadways.
Trail Development
region also boasts a variety of State
Paved Side Paths 10 – 12’ wide, typically constructed of
Parks, including Lake Waccamaw State Park, Carolina Beach State Park, and Masonboro Island State Recreation Park. FOR MORE INFORMATION
concrete or asphalt. Often located parallel to roadways.
10. Jacksonville to Wilmington 11. Holly Shelter Connector
Paddle Trail (Blueway)
12. Wilmington to Southport
Located on waterbody (e.g. river, creek,
13. Wilmington to Cliffs of the Neuse State Park (Rail Trail)
estuary, etc.)
14. Wilmington to Bushy Lake
Width of the paddle trail is dependent
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upon waterbody of where it is located.
BENEFITS
BY THE NUMBERS
PLANNING PROCESS
Regional trails provide options for traveling to regional destinations on
The Cape Fear Regional Trail Plan encompasses 4 counties and
In a public survey, respondents across the study area were asked
foot or by bicycle, increase tourism, improve public health, and mitigate
provides for a total population of 495,631 people. The regional trail
which benefits of trails they most wanted to see from a regional
flood risk.
system connects to dozens of towns, parks, historic sites, game lands,
trail system. The results show a strong interest in using trails
Trail Tourism: A study in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia noted
and forest lands.
improve health and wellness and quality of life.
that, in addition to Virginia residents visiting local trails, 1/3 of trail visitors were from out-of-state. People making these extended trips to the region often include overnight hotel stays and spending on food and services. Economic Impact: The North Carolina Department of Transportation studied trail systems in different regions of the state; finding that for every $1.00 spent on trail construction, $1.72 is generated annually from
# of total miles of proposed trails in region
2. Environmental Protection 3. Improve Quality of Life 4. Access to Destinations 5. Economic Development
health and transportation savings.
6. Increase Property Value
Access to Recreation, Nature, and History: Several established trail
7. Create Community Identity
downtowns, nature centers, and local parks, including the Cape Fear River Trail in Fayetteville; the Kinston Riverwalk; and the Gary Shell Cross City Trail in Wilmington. Health Outcomes: Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC and the American Heart
Created for the Cape Fear Council of Governments in partnership with North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation
1. Health and Wellness
local business revenue, sales tax revenue, and other benefits related
systems in southeastern North Carolina connect people to historic
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Benefit Ranking ( 1 = Highest Priority)
Association cite research that says that for $1 invested in building trails,
1 mile of proposed trail per 2136 residents in region
nearly $3 in medical cost savings may be achieved.
damages are saved when a floodplain is restored, including trail corridors that protect natural buffers and habitats. Safety: Trails and greenways separated from roads decrease the risk that pedestrians or cyclists will be injured or killed on roads when involved in crashes with vehicles. Proven countermeasures can be implemented at a relatively low-cost to improve safety at trail crossings.
Survey Highlight: Cape Fear Region
“[My favorite trail is] from Surf City Park across the
Flooding and Environmental Improvements: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates that $1.1 billion in annual flood
8. Increase Tourism
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marsh bridge to the new bridge total # of proposed miles of major loops in region
and back. Exactly 1 mile. Great views.”