REGIONAL LOOPS The Eastern Carolina Regional Trails Plan includes routes that will connect to destinations such as the Croatan National Forest and Cliffs of the Neuse State Park. The regional routes connect into a loop system that will link Wilmington and natural areas along the Cape Fear and Lumber Rivers.
NATIONAL AND STATE ROUTES Mountains-to-Sea State Trail East Coast Greenway Mountains-to-Sea State Trail - Coastal Crescent The Eastern Carolina 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 plan. Trail systems of statewide or regional significance—such
CAPE FEAR
as the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail or the East Coast Greenway —are part of the larger vision for connecting people, places, and
HEADER 2
natural resources.
p am ck
hp
Fairmont Proctorville
ole
Sw
am
p
Ut
Ca
Boardman Lumber River State Park
k
pe
Whiteville
Cerro Gordo Chadbourn
Lake Waccamaw
Bolton
Lake Waccamaw State Park
Brunswick Brunswick
k Cr ee
Burgaw
PENDER
Fe
ar
r ive
Surf City
Riv
er
Cap
eF
ear
Riv
Topsail Beach Lea Island State Natural Area
er
Northwest Sandy Creek
Navassa
Poplar Grove Plantation
NEW HANOVER
ipe
Leland
rC
Leland Leland
ree k
Wilmington Wrightsville Beach
Cape Fe
Jun
ett
ar River
Sw am p
aw
Holly Ridge
USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial
Marsh
iss
c Wa
m ca
ve Ri
Holly Ridge Holly Ridge Holly Ridge North Topsail Beach
Saint Helena
Moores Creek National Battlefield
White
Gr
Tabor City
Sandy Run Savannas State Natural Area
Surf City
East Arcadia Sandyfield
Marietta
COLUMBUS
Atkinson
lter
Shaken Creek
ng
Cr ee
Clarkton
Orrum
Fair Bluff
lly
Lo
p
She
r
As
Co
Warwick Mill Bay Bladenboro State Natural Area Bladenboro
ly Hol
ve
McDonald
am
Singletary Lake State Park
Watha
Ri
Sw
Moores Creek
amp
og
Elizabethtown
BLADEN
Bay Tree Lake State Park
White Lake
ONSLOW
ek Cre
w
Rowland
Lumberton
Dublin
s
Ne
Raynham
Big Sw
ROBESON H
Jones Lake State Park
ore
wR
k
Mo
Jacksonville
Ne
Harrells
eek Cr
ek
ee Cr
Wallace
Cre
Teachey Teachey
est
lly
Pembroke Pembroke
thw
Sw
Greenevers
Sou
Rose Hill
DUPLIN
River
Co
Tar Heel
Maysville
Richlands
Magnolia
ek
Black
p
Garland Bladen Lakes State Forest
k
Cre
r
am
Red Springs
xR
un
e re sC
Beulaville
eys
ve
Si
Sw
Red Springs
SAMPSON
Ri
rry
Saint Pauls Rennert Saint Pauls
River White Oak Maysville JONES
Kenansville
rph
mp
Bushy Lake State Natural Area
uth
Parkton Lumber Bridge
llbe
wa
Ga
tS
So
af
Clinton
Roseboro
Hope Mills
Mu
HOKE R
Hope Mills
Ba
Raeford
r
BRUNSWICK Shallotte Shallotte Shallotte Shallotte
Bolivia
Carolina Beach State Park
Boiling Spring Lakes Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
Masonboro Island State Recreation Park
Carolina Beach Kure Beach
Ut
Varnamtown Saint James Southport Ocean Isle Beach Oak Island Caswell Beach Holden Beach Calabash Bald Head Island Carolina Shores Sunset Beach Ocean Isle Beach State Natural Area Bald Head Island
Label Text Here Label Text Here Image or call out box here
Label Text Here Label Text Here Label Text Here
Eastern Carolina Region
Regional Routes
Main Street Communities
Forests
Park/Forest
Area Routes
Cultural Sites
State and National Trail Systems
Municipalities
Local Connector
State Parks
N
EASTERN CAROLINA REGION
EASTERN CAROLINA REGION SEGMENTS
IMPLEMENTION PLAN
The Eastern Carolina Regional Trails Plan features several segments
Segment
that also 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 adopting the regional plan, partners will study segments to determine more specific alignments, right-of-way needs, and
ABOUT THE REGION
4
Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Greene, Jones,
5
Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico, and Wayne counties and Main Street Communities Morehead
6
City, New Bern, and Goldsboro, among other cities and towns. The region also boasts the
7
Croatan National Forest and a variety of
8
State Parks, including Fort Macon State Park, 2. Fayetteville to Goldsboro 3. Goldsboro to Kinston
the Neuse State Park.
4. Kinston to New Bern
FOR MORE INFORMATION
6. New Bern to Jacksonville
000.000.0000 www.website.org
3
construction opportunities.
The Eastern Carolina Region encompasses
Hammocks Beach State Park, and Cliffs of
2
9. Morehead City to Jacksonville 10. Jacksonville to Wilmington
9
5. New Bern to Morehead City 7. Outerbanks Connector 8. Croatan Connector
10
TRAIL TYPES
Strategies Planning; Coordination; Funding; Right of Way
Unique Regional Features East Coast Greenway; Bentonville Battlefield; Mill Creek; Neuse River; Mountains-to-Sea State Trail
Planning; Coordination;
Neuse River; Mountains-to-Sea State
Funding; Right of Way;
Trail; Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
to destinations such as State Parks and protected forests. As plan 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. Natural Surface Trails
Trail Development Planning; Coordination; Funding; Right of Way
2 ½ - 3’ wide, typically constructed of dirt.
Neuse River Paddle Trail; Mountains-
Often located in a wooded environment
to-Sea State Trail; East Coast Greenway
and/or close to bodies of water, and away
Planning; Coordination;
East Coast Greenway; Ferry Boat;
from roadways.
Funding; Right of Way;
Croatan National Forest
Paved Greenway Trails
Trail Development Trent River Paddle Trail; Mill Creek;
12 – 16’ wide, typically constructed of
Croatan National Forest; East Coast
concrete or asphalt.
Greenway
Often located within utility and/or stream
Planning; Coordination;
East Coast Greenway; Outerbanks
Funding; Right of Way;
National Scenic Byway; Mountains-to-
easements, and away from roadways.
Trail Development
Sea State Trail; Cape Lookout
Paved Side Paths
Planning; Coordination;
Croatan National Forest; US Army +
Funding; Trail
Marines Rail Spur
10 – 12’ wide, typically constructed of
Planning; Coordination; Funding; Right of Way
concrete or asphalt.
Development Planning; Coordination; Funding; Right of Way; Trail Development
Often located parallel to roadways.
East Coast Greenway; Mountainsto-Sea State Trail-Coastal Crescent;
Paddle Trail (Blueway)
Croatan National Forest; Jacksonville-
Located on waterbody (e.g. river, creek,
Camp Lejeune Rail Trail
estuary, etc.)
Planning; Coordination;
East Coast Greenway; Holly Shelter
Funding; Right of Way;
Game Land; Mountains-to-Sea State
Width of the paddle trail is dependent
Trail Development
Trail-Coastal Crescent
upon waterbody of where it is located.
BENEFITS
BY THE NUMBERS
PLANNING PROCESS
Regional trails provide options for traveling to regional destinations on
The Eastern Carolina Regional Trail Plan encompasses 9 counties
In a public survey, respondents across the study area were asked
foot or by bicycle, increase tourism, improve public health, and mitigate
and provides for a total population of 668,378 people. The regional
which benefits of trails they most wanted to see from a regional
flood risk.
trail system connects to dozens of towns, parks, historic sites, game
trail system. The results show a strong interest in using trails
Trail Tourism: A study in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia noted
lands, 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
529
Benefit Ranking ( 1 = Highest Priority) 1. Health and Wellness # of total proposed miles of proposed trails in region
2. Improve Quality of Life 3. Environmental Protection 4. Access to Destinations
local business revenue, sales tax revenue, and other benefits related
5. Economic Development
health and transportation savings.
6. Create Community Identity
Access to Recreation, Nature, and History: Several established trail
7. Increase Tourism
systems in southeastern North Carolina connect people to historic downtowns, nature centers, and local parks, including the Cape Fear
EASTERN CAROLINA
The Eastern Carolina Regional Trails Plan connects urban centers
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 Association cite research that says that for $1 invested in building trails,
1 mile of proposed trail per 1,263 residents in region
Flooding and Environmental Improvements: The Federal Emergency
REGIONAL TRAILS PLAN
damages are saved when a floodplain is restored, including trail corridors
Created for the Eastern Carolina Council of Governments in partnership with North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation
Safety: Trails and greenways separated from roads decrease the risk that
that protect natural buffers and habitats. 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.
Public Input: Eastern Carolina Region
The trail cited the most in the
nearly $3 in medical cost savings may be achieved. Management Agency (FEMA) estimates that $1.1 billion in annual flood
8. Increase Property Value
799
entire study area as a favorite total # of proposed miles of major loops in region
trail was the Neusiok Trail.