LANDIS — All 10 towns and cities in Rowan County are launching an effort to develop a countywide master plan for the Carolina Thread Trail.
The town of Landis has taken the lead on the project and received a $54,500 planning grant on behalf of the county’s municipalities. Rowan County government is not participating in the thread trail.
The Thread is a network of trails, greenways, blueways and conservation corridors linking 15 counties in North and South Carolina. It offers a multitude of opportunities for biking, hiking, fishing, paddling and connecting with nature and exploring the culture and history of the region.
The Thread is made up of segments that are designed, built and owned by the communities through which the trail network is woven.
All Rowan County residents are encouraged to participate in the planning process, as citizen participation is vital to the successful development of a final plan, according to Randi Gates, Carolina Thread Trail grants director and community coordinator.
The public is invited to participate through online and written surveys and through a series of public open house sessions.
A public survey (online and hard copy) will soon be available for citizen input. Beginning Jan. 14, a series of public open house sessions will be held throughout the county to gather additional public input.
The sessions will take place on the following dates and will be drop-in style:
• Jan. 14 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Saleeby-Fisher YMCA, 790 Crescent Road in Rockwell;
• Jan. 16 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the N.C. Research Campus, Old Cabarrus Bank Building, 201 West Ave. in Kannapolis;
• Jan. 21 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the N.C. Transportation Museum, Exhibit Hall Building C, 411 S. Salisbury Avenue in Spencer;
• Jan. 23 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Cleveland Town Hall, 302 E. Main St. in Cleveland.
Participants will receive information and share input on the location of greenway trails within the communities of Rowan County and learn about the Carolina Thread Trail. The same information will be provided at each public open house.
For more information about the open house sessions and the plan, visit the Carolina Thread Trail website www.carolinathreadtrail.org or contact Gates at 704-376-2556 ext. 217 or randi@carolinathreadtrail.org.