Charlotte, NC
Long Creek Greenway
Reimagining an Abandoned Tributary into a Multi-Modal Connection
status
Ongoing
client
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department
expertise
Public Realm + Open Space
services
Civil Engineering Landscape Architecture Master Planning
Marrying Creek Conservation with Community Recreation
Long Creek Greenway connects communities back to nature through thoughtful, environmentally conscious engineering solutions.
Located in North Charlotte, Long Creek is one of several tributaries of the greater Catawba River. This formerly industrialized area features a variety of natural landscapes and wildlife that has since reclaimed the space. Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation had their eye on the site, envisioning this corridor within the regional greenway network as the missing link for multi-modal connection. Additionally, as severe weather events have become increasingly common, Long Creek suffered fast-paced erosion, and the dumping of pollutants and sediment into the area’s main water source was destroying naturally occurring aquatic habitats. The county recognized this opportunity to improve and protect these wetland areas, allowing for the stream’s realignment and preservation of a naturalized recreational experience.
The county engaged LandDesign to lead a multi-disciplinary team for the greenway’s design and construction, aiming to enhance and restore this natural amenity. The project connects multiple neighborhoods through a pedestrian-friendly path that is used for walking, running, biking, and other recreational activities, with plans to tie Long Creek’s corridor into the larger greenway system.
Long Creek Greenway operates as a walkable pedestrian greenway, restored river, and stormwater management for the city. The existing creek offered five miles of trail running alongside its path, with the project calling for over two miles of new greenway trail and stream enhancements to reduce erosion and sediment. This project serves as an excellent example of LandDesign’s ability to navigate complex jurisdictional ownership on greenways that integrate technical engineering solutions to improve the natural environment.
Long Creek Greenway was divided into three funded phases for improvements, which each required bids to be placed for each phase's consultant since 2013. LandDesign has been selected as the prime consultant on all three phases of Long Creek, proving the value of our relationship with the county and the technical expertise and coordination we bring to the project.
LandDesign collaborated with stream restoration experts to create a greenway and stream restoration corridor that would safely connect people with the surrounding wetlands. Keeping the focus on the end users was important; the greenway needed to offer a safe passage along the creek, calling for 12-foot-wide paved pathways that accommodate diverse activities for all ages, whether it be running or biking to walking with a stroller or skating.
Additionally, the opportunity to construct the project without adversely impacting the wetlands allowed LandDesign to incorporate a variety of plants, trees, and grasses to revitalize the landscape. Locally native trees and grasses were selected to help aid soil deterioration while adding variation back into the local ecosystem.
Regional Connectivity in the Carolinas
This project incorporates the Long Creek section of the greenway into the overall county greenway network and the greater Carolina Thread Trail, a vision plan for a regional trail system within the Carolinas.
-
350
miles of trails
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1250+
miles to still be built
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88
local governments collaborating
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2.9
million people connected
Redesigning a creek’s path would be no small feat; there were several major factors to consider while developing the new flow, from flooding mitigation to complex coordination with state- and private-owned entities.
Wetland Delineation
Long Creek is situated within a protected wetlands area, as well as a known flood zone. This required engineers to strategically design the greenway to accommodate the fluctuating water levels; concrete culverts and large, elevated pedestrian bridges provide safe passage for pedestrians while still allowing the area to flood safely. The greenway’s surface incorporates elevated boardwalks over deeper flood zones to allow for safe pedestrian passage, while many of the surface trails are constructed with concrete to hold up in the frequently wet conditions. By incorporating these features, the existing floodplain could be maintained while also protecting adjacent properties, structures, and roadways from the excess water.
National Gas Pipelines
The creek also intersects a major national gas pipeline that runs underground from Texas up the East Coast, meaning any digging or nearby construction was prohibited or strictly monitored. LandDesign worked through this challenge with the pipeline companies through ensuring effective communication, field reports, and periodic check-ins with Colonial Gas and Plantation Pipeline to maintain compliance. Through this complex coordination, LandDesign was able to submit greenway plans, receive design approval, and authorize constructability directly with the gas companies.
NCDOT
Lastly, the path of the stream dictates that Long Creek greenway crosses under four major roads and one interstate (I-485) twice. This calls for constant communication and permitting with the NCDOT during the design and construction of the greenway. The updated pedestrian path allows users of Long Creek to safely pass beneath these major transportation hubs, maintaining the experience of being close to nature.
Physical
Design elevated boardwalks and multi-modal bridges to meet expected flood elevations, while also stabilizing the stream banks and restoring the floodplain to its natural state.
Functional
Form an “alternate transportation corridor” that provides safe bike and pedestrian routes while minimizing impact to the existing utilities, infrastructure, and the environment.
Social
Creating the missing piece of the Carolina Thread Trail to connect the surrounding neighborhoods, commercial and retail developments, and local parks with a design that accommodates multi-modal transportation.
Physical
Design elevated boardwalks and multi-modal bridges to meet expected flood elevations, while also stabilizing the stream banks and restoring the floodplain to its natural state.
Functional
Form an “alternate transportation corridor” that provides safe bike and pedestrian routes while minimizing impact to the existing utilities, infrastructure, and the environment.
Social
Creating the missing piece of the Carolina Thread Trail to connect the surrounding neighborhoods, commercial and retail developments, and local parks with a design that accommodates multi-modal transportation.
"Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation has worked with LandDesign to complete many miles of greenway trails, including the 5.5 miles of Long Creek Greenway trail nearly complete in NW Charlotte. LandDesign staff are thoughtful about the ecological and physical constraints of greenway trail projects, work well to identify and resolve issues during construction, and are great collaborators for joint trail and stream restoration projects."
Katie Lloyd, PLA - Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation
SEEING IS BELIEVING
Interested in seeing these efforts in action? Check out this video that showcases Long Creek Greenway and the engineering that took this creek from polluted eye sore to public use amenity.
SEEING IS BELIEVING
Interested in seeing these efforts in action? Check out this video that showcases Long Creek Greenway and the engineering that took this creek from polluted eye sore to public use amenity.