Governor Stein announces funding that provides $1.7 million to benefit Burke trail projects

Nature’s Playground is about to get a $1.7 million boost, further enhancing Burke County’s trail network. The portion of funding is part of a larger movement to strengthen recreation, tourism and local infrastructure across Western North Carolina.

Gov. Josh Stein announced that the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has awarded more than $11 million, authorized by the General Assembly, to communities and nonprofits in Western North Carolina from Great Trails State Program funding.

“From the barrier islands to the Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina is home to amazing opportunities for outdoor recreation,” said Stein in a news release. “As Western North Carolina continues to recover from Hurricane Helene, this funding for trails will help local communities increase tourism, promote healthy living, and improve quality of life for all North Carolinians.

Here are the Burke County trail projects that will be supported through the funding:

• City of Morganton: $374,000 for Morganton Greenway and Mountain Bike Extension.
• Burke County: $399,819 for Burke County Fonta Flora State Trail & Overmountain Victory State Trail Construction-Paddy Creek.
• Burke County: $363,067 for Burke County Fonta Flora State Trail & Overmountain Victory State Trail Repairs and Construction.
• Burke, Caldwell, and McDowell counties: Camp Grier, $499,197 for Grandfather Ranger District Trail Expansion.
• Burke and Catawba counties: Western Piedmont Council of Governments, $100,000 for Burke — Catawba Blueway Planning and Feasibility Study.

The Great Trails State Program legislation was established through the General Assembly in 2023, representing a historic investment of $25 million in North Carolina trails. The program offers matching grants to North Carolina local governments, public authorities, regional council of governments, and nonprofit organizations.

“Trails bring incredible benefits to both urban and rural communities, boosting tourism and economic development,” said Pamela B. Cashwell, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. “This generous funding made possible by the N.C. General Assembly will help transform the state trails system in the Great Trails State.”

Beth Heile, the executive director of the Burke River Trail Association, is a founding member of the Great Trails State Coalition and a member of its executive committee. She said she has been working to secure the funding since 2020 to help Burke County move closer to having a “fully connected, scenic corridor that promotes outdoor recreation, community health and regional tourism,” Heile stated. Sarah Chabaane, trail specialist for Burke County, said more detailed information about the Fonta Flora State Trail and Overmountain Victory State Trail projects will be available in the coming weeks.

GREENWAY EXTENSION

Rob Winkler, special projects manager for the City of Morganton, shared more about how the funds will benefit the Morganton Greenway and Mountain Bike Extension.

Winkler said the city submitted the project a year ago, which is extending the Greenway to connect with the Burke River Trail. When the grant was put together, Winkler said, the conceptual design was to extend the current Greenway from Rocky Ford under the N.C. 18 bridge and along the river.

The first phase, he said, will add a mile in length. It will be composed of a natural trail surface, such as gravel, and will be 10 to 12 feet wide to accommodate walkers and cyclists.

The second component, he said, is that the city has teamed up with Foothills Conservancy, which is working on the mountain bike trails at Catawba Meadows Park. The grant will go toward building bridges needed in two sections of the bike trail.

Winkler said the city is currently focused on administrative tasks at the front end of the project, such as securing easements and managing other logistical details. He said the city is grateful to have been awarded the funding because the grant process was very competitive.

“It shows that not only do we value this, but the people that are awarding the grants value and trust the City of Morganton will fulfill its obligation,” Winkler said.

“We want everybody to get out and stay healthy,” Winkler said. “We’re thankful that we’ve been able to open some of the sections back of the Greenway as fast as we can. We’re working on the boardwalk design currently to try to get that going, and we’re just happy we can open up parks and areas for our citizens.”

BURKE-CATAWBA BLUEWAY

The Western Piedmont Council of Governments is working on a planning and feasibility study for a blueway that will stretch along the Henry and Jacob Fork rivers. The blueway will provide a designated water-based route along the rivers to provide safe, accessible, and scenic pathways for non-motorized recreational activities such as kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, and occasionally swimming.

Duncan Cavanaugh, manager for the Center for Research and Data Analytics at WPCOG, said the organization applied for the grant in 2024. The study will assess where people should access the waterway, where access is more difficult, and the stream’s ability to support kayaking.

The final product would feature signage guiding kayakers, canoers, and other paddlers along the route and indicating access points to nearby parks.

“We’re looking forward to beginning this study, which will help us better understand how our rivers can serve as safe, accessible corridors for kayaking, canoeing, wildlife viewing, and nature-based tourism,” Cavanaugh said.

The study itself, Cavanaugh said, should not last longer than three years. After the study is completed, the WPCOG will continue to work with Burke and Catawba counties with the goal of implementing the study’s findings by 2028.