Kings Mountain Gateway Trail receives $30,000 for extension

The plan to expand the Kings Mountain Gateway Trail recently got a boost.

The governing board of the Thread Trail recently approved $752,500 for the Carolina Thread Trail to help expand and improve access to public trails in 15 counties in North Carolina and South Carolina. And a project in Kings Mountain is one of the recipients.

The city will receive $30,000 for a study to create an extension of the Kings Mountain Gateway Trail to the Crowders Mountain Boulders Access parking area. 

“The Kings Mountain Gateway Trail and the city of Kings Mountain planning department partnered to submit a grant application to the Carolina Thread Trail,” said Kings Mountain City Manager Marilyn Sellers. “On Jan. 20, the Carolina Thread Trail announced 16 new partner grant recipients. When complete, the new trail will provide several more miles, perfect for walkers and bikers. The Kings Mountain Gateway Trail has been in the Kings Mountain Master Plan for nearly 20 years.”

The Gateway Trail opened in 2009.

Kings Mountain Senior Planner Kimberly Herndon stressed the significance of partnerships and bringing those plans to life.

“We are excited by the possibilities brought about through partnerships,” said Herndon. “The Carolina Thread Trail is a great partner in helping the city of Kings Mountain and the Gateway Trail bring long standing hike and bike plans a step closer to reality for the citizens of the community.” 

Kings Mountain Mayor Scott Neisler backed the plan, saying it is imperative in supporting long-term health.  

“The Gateway Trail and its proposed extension is a big tourism attraction and a great option for a healthy lifestyle activity for all using the trail," said Neisler. 

The Thread Trail’s Implementation Grant Program provides funding to communities and nonprofit organizations to support trail construction, design, land acquisition and corridor planning. Over the past 11 years, the Thread Trail has awarded nearly $8 million in catalytic grants to communities.

Shelby's rail trail which is currently being constructed got an even bigger boost to the tune of $200,000 which will be used to construct a 0.8-mile segment of rail trail that will connect an existing Thread Trail to uptown Shelby. This is the first phase of an eventual 11-mile rail trail connection from Shelby to the South Carolina state line.

Currently, 350 miles of greenways and trails, as well as 170 miles of blueways, are open to the public within the Thread Trail system.

More trails

Other communities that benefited from the recent grants include:

BELMONT: $30,000, to help with land acquisition for the construction of Abbey Creek Greenway, which runs parallel to Wilkinson Boulevard and will connect to Loftin Park on the Catawba River.

BESSEMER CITY: $15,000, to conduct a trail corridor study to determine the best alignment for a trail extension at the South-Ridge Parkway Industrial Park that will serve residents and employees and approach the western side of Gastonia with an eventual connection underneath I-85.

CATAWBA LANDS CONSERVANCY: $5,000, to construct a new canoe/kayak launch at Spencer Mountain River Access, the northern-most paddling input along the South Fork Catawba River Blueway. The launch will improve safe access to the blueway for residents and visitors to Gaston County.

CONCORD: $30,000, to design an extension of Irish Buffalo Creek Greenway, connecting Caldwell Park to Lincoln Street and Melrose Drive.

CRAMERTON: $86,000, to improve the Rocky Branch Trail at Stuart Cramer High School, which provides a critical trail connection between Cramerton and Belmont.

GREAT FALLS, S.C.: 30,000, to design the 3.5-mile Great Falls Rail Trail along the Catawba River, which will provide important pedestrian and bicycle access to the future Dearborn Island State Park and its recreational opportunities.

IREDELL COUNTY: $30,000, to design a 1.4-mile extension of Fourth Creek Greenway between Big Leaf Slopes Park and Greenbriar Road, where it will also connect to the future extension of the Broad Street segment of the Statesville Greenway resulting in seven miles of continuous trail.

LOWELL: $8,000, to fund the design of a potential future extension of the South Fork Trail, which facilitates an eventual connection to Poston Park.

MARSHVILLE: $14,500, to fund construction of the town of Marshville Connector trail. Funding will improve the trail within the Municipal Park, improve crosswalks, and expand the trail by connecting to a nearby neighborhoods.

MOUNT PLEASANT: $47,000, to expand the existing parking lot at Buffalo Creek Preserve, therefore increasing access to the preserve and and existing Carolina Thread Trail.

ROCK HILL: $30,000, to design a 0.2-mile extension of the Jack White Trail along Dave Lyle Boulevard, which facilitates a connection of the Manchester Creek trail corridor from the Catawba River to downtown Rock Hill.

SPENCER: $50,000, to construct the Yadkin River Park Trailhead and Greenway Connector, a first step toward providing a connection between Spencer and Salisbury and across the Wil-Cox Bridge to Davidson County.

STANLY: $100,000, to construct the 2.75-mile Tom Webb segment of the Falcon Trail, extending the existing trail from Richfield Park.

WAXHAW:, $50,000, to fund construction of the 12 Mile Creek Greenway, formerly a private trail that will be improved and made accessible to the public. The trail will expand the existing portion of the 12 Mile Creek Greenway, which crosses the North Carolina-South Carolina state line.

Latrice Williams can be reached at 704-669-3339 and lwilliams6@gannett.com.