Greenway Initiatives and Conferences
Regional Trails and
Open Space Plan
French Broad/Pigeon River Watersheds
The North Carolina State Trails Program
is working with multiple-county regions across the state to
develop regional trail systems that will interconnect in a
comprehensive statewide trail network. Land-of-Sky Regional
Council partnered with the State Trails Program to develop a
regional trail plan for the French Broad/Pigeon River
watershed. This plan covers the five-county area that
includes Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison and
Transylvania counties in western North Carolina.
This regional plan will help
communities in the region work together on greenways and
open space plans and plan for and make connections between
communities. It will also strengthen local planning efforts
and enhance funding opportunities.
The map contains existing trails, open
spaces and bicycle routes and proposed local and regional
trails. The plan identified high priority regional
connections/trails:
• Along the French
Broad River, from its start in Transylvania County to the
Tennessee line, with walking/biking and boating trails –
providing connections between cities, towns, Pisgah National
Forest, the Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway and the
State sponsored Mountains-to-Sea Trail;
•
Connections between DuPont State Forest, Hendersonville,
Brevard and Pisgah National Forest;
•
Along the Swannanoa River, connecting Black Mountain,
Swannanoa and Asheville, and extending over to Old Fort in
McDowell County; and
•
Connections between Canton, Clyde, Waynesville and Maggie
Valley, and to the greenways in these towns.
You may view the
plan and
map online.
Copies of the printed plan brochure are available at
Land-of-Sky Regional Council. Contact Linda Giltz by
email or phone
(828-251-6622) for copies or more information.
Blue Ridge Greenways
Conference
Greenways were the focus of a
regional conference held in Asheville in November 2005.
Greenways are linear
parks and natural areas, often containing paths for
walking and bicycling. Over 130 people from Western NC
and across the state gathered to learn more about how to
plan and gain support and funding for greenways. Also
highlighted were the many economic, environmental,
recreation and transportation benefits of greenways.
Ten sessions covered the spectrum of topics and
experience, drawing novices as well as seasoned
professionals, and providing an atmosphere conducive for
sharing information with each other.
To read more about the
Blue Ridge Greenways
Conference,
click
here.
Conference Program
Conference Session Descriptions
Mobile
Workshops
Speakers
Sponsors
Planning Committee
Useful Greenway Resources
For more information about the
conference and follow-on activities, contact Linda Giltz via
email or call
828-251-6622.
A 22 minute
documentary was produced for the conference. It
highlights a number of greenways in Western North Carolina
and discusses the benefits of greenways.
A DVD containing the “Greenways of
Western North Carolina” documentary and the featured
speakers (Sig Hutchinson, Bill Ross and Tom Norman) is
available for $10. A CD containing conference
materials and presentations is available for $5. Please
contact Linda Giltz if you would like a DVD or CD.
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