July 2009

Washington-Greenville Greenway

(Pitt and Beaufort Counties)
The committee met April 18th, May 12th and June 16th in Washington at the Parks and Recreation Building. Vernon Teeter unfurled the Washington-Greenville Greenway banner on the 18th at the Cycle NC event and got email addresses of seventeen local trail supporters. Mayor Judy Jennette will be managing the list and sent out her first "blast" June 23rd establishing contact. Bob Henkle of the city's planning board has joined and has begun trail easements analysis on other utility corridors. The committee decided not to take the Summer off. Their next meeting is July 21st.

Dunn-Erwin Rail-Trail

(Harnett County)
The Dunn-Erwin Trail Authority met May 12 at the Dunn Area Tourism Authority Building. A budget request was filed with the county for trail maintenance for 2010. Thomas Jernigan reported the trail is in good condition. Calvin Dickenson of Erwin Parks reported a washed out section in Erwin which they may look into paving. Sgt. Aaron Meredith of the Sheriff's Office suggested the creation of a safety committee of regular users and adjacents, and use of the Sheriff's ATV for visible uniformed patrol.

Brevard Bike Path

A gravel composite surface is currently being laid into the Pisgah National Forest extending the Brevard Bike Path so as to join the Art Loeb Trail. Most of this extension will be upon the crown of the dismantled railbed of the defunct Carr Lumber Railroad. NCDOT stimulus enhancement funds are being used to fund a safe crossing of the wide and busy Asheville Highway. The path will connect with the Art Loeb Trail. The latter trail is a connector to and part of the Mountains to the Sea Trail (MST). This would make the Brevard Bike Trail a connector to the MST.

EarthShare NC to be Included in Progress Energy Giving Program

For the first time, North Carolina Rail-Trails will be included as a giving option in the Progress Energy Employee Giving Campaign this year. We will be included as one of the 63 environmental organizations that are represented by EarthShare North Carolina in workplace giving campaigns across the state. We’ve been informed that the process for adding new groups can be slow and that it may take some time before our names appear on the giving site; however, ESNC organizations will be listed before the campaign ends on July 31st.