Partnerships make trails happen and Rocky Ford access in Morganton is the perfect location to showcase partnerships in action. Members the nonprofit, business and local government worlds came together to tell the story with a Hike & Learn.
The event organized by Beth Heile, past president of Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail, is part of an ongoing series Heile started in 2021 to highlight Fonta Flora State Trail sections that are on the ground, educate the community about how the section came to exist and have lunch at a local establishment emphasizing the economic impact trails bring. Thirteen local hikers gathered at the gravel parking area off Lenoir Road/NC 18 N to hear updates on the trail activity that includes two state trails, a regional trail, a local greenway and a mountain bike trail system. It all started 30 years ago with the City of Morganton Greenway.
Morganton Greenway
Current Morganton City Councilman and past Morganton Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Butch McSwain welcomed the group. It was the early 1990’s when Morganton began acquiring 6 miles of property along the river. McSwain told the story of how the greenway project started while he was in the department, the man hours it took Gary Leonhardt to oversee greenway construction and McSwain working with the existing parks and athletic programs operating.
Now the 4-mile paved Morganton Greenway welcomes thousands of visitors a year and has been officially designated Fonta Flora State Trail. With his knowledge of recreation, tourism and local government, McSwain has been an incredible asset to Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail (F3ST) as a board member. The organization created in 2019 to spearhead the completion of the 100-mile trail that runs from Morganton to Asheville is recognized by NC State Parks as the official nonprofit for the trail. As such, they will receive funding to help get trail on the ground across the three counties in the trail corridor.
The Overmountain Victory State Trail (part of the Overmountain Victory National Heritage Trail) is another state trail collocated on the greenway route. The Park Service placed historical markers along the trail section commemorating the historic King’s Mountain March. From Rocky Ford, the trail continues as a Commemorative Motor Route northeast via Highway 64 to Lenoir. Like F3ST, this state trail has a official nonprofit. OVNCST-Friends, Inc headquartered out of Morganton and led by historians Bryant and Linda Lindsey.
Mountain Bike Trails
Michael Lowther, Overmountain Cycles and Brittany Watkins, FCNC discussed the 4.5 miles of mountain bike trails that are under construction in partnership with the City of Morganton. The trails will be accessed from the parking lot (away from the other trails) and include beginner, intermediate and advanced trails. Hiking will be allowed on most of the trails.
The River Trail (Burke River Trail)
Taking advantage of the space, the parking area will serve as the western terminus of The River Trail. The planned 20-mile hiking and biking trail will be a mix of natural surface, crushed cinder and paved trail types as it wanders along the river banks and into downtowns of eastern Burke County.
Burke River Trail Association, the nonprofit for the trail had board members Christa Pearson and Beth Heile at the event to provide an overview of the trail. Though economic development is a goal of the trail, Heile said she has been surprised by the opportunities for housing, office and retail space and eateries brought by trail discussions – before the trail is on the ground. The other benefit, Heile went on to explain has been the sense of pride shown by the local governments as they have a new attraction on the horizon that will highlight their history and natural resources while offering health and recreation benefits to residents.
Starting at Rocky Ford, four miles of the trail route have been nailed down with verbal agreements and the paper work is in process. The written agreement needed from private landowners is called a trail easement which allows the public to access the property.
Grace Ridge is the first landowner after walking under the Lenoir Road bridge and Vulcan Industries is the last. Stakeholders gathered at Vulcan last week to discuss the trail location. Since the property is an active quarry with large trucks and machinery, the safety of trail users is extremely important. The overall site began operation in 1986 and consists of about 309 acres, nearly 100 of which serve as buffers. Within the buffer area, hikers and bikers will be kept safe. Vulcan is excited about populating their section of trail with educational kiosks explaining mining operations, environmental stewardship efforts and how stone is used in everyday applications.
“Vulcan Materials literally builds the community,” said Denise Hallet, Vulcan community and government relations manager. “Our products are a major component of asphalt, concrete and base materials that build roads, schools, hospitals, homes, churches and more.”
What’s Next for Rocky Ford
With all the existing and planned activity at Rocky Ford, the City of Morganton is looking at updates for the site. Heile has gathered folks from NCDOT, NCWRC, Morganton and Grace Ridge to meet at the site to discuss the options. An improved access driveway, parking, restrooms, picnic area and kayak launch are amenities in the discussion. The next step is to look for grants for funding the the new trailhead and park.
Weaver Lane Boat Ramp in the eastern part of the county was the first stop. Rhodhiss Town Manager Rick Justice, Mayor Allen Spencer and Councilman Mike Phillips welcomed Godwin and other stakeholders. Justice shared his vision for the 131-acre property to host camping, picnicking and trails – including the BRT. Because the property is owned by Duke Energy, managed by NCWRC as a motorized boat ramp, and is in Burke County’s jurisdiction it was critical for representatives from each entity to be present for the discussion. Alan Glines, Burke County Community Development Director & Deputy County Manager regarded the meeting as “a beginning step to view opportunities for regional recreation facilities in eastern Burke County along with potential partnerships with State and local stakeholders.” Parks Director Treg McGee took part in the site visit and shared “there was a Burke County plan from about 15 years ago that looked at this exact recreational use, but the economy at the time did not allow it.”
The final site for the day was Rocky Ford Access in Morganton. The gravel parking lot found at the end of the Morganton Greenway, also designated Fonta Flora State Trail, is where the BRT will begin. NCWRC visited the location a few weeks ago to determine the feasibility of a fishing pier. At that same meeting, a representative from NCDOT verified the BRT could continue under the US-64 and NC-18 bridges. The goal for the access is better parking, restrooms, boat access, fishing pier, and extension of the Morganton Greenway via the BRT. Extending the Morganton Greenway to Riverview Apartments was in the original greenway plan many years ago.
Vulcan Materials Company in Morganton has property along the river trail corridor that is in the county’s jurisdiction. Steve Jetter, WNC Area Operations Manager for Vulcan, accompanied Shane Prisby, Burke County Community Development Operations Manager and Beth Heile, BRT Coordinator for a walk on the Vulcan property. The goal was to verify there is room for the trail and still be a safe distance from Vulcan’s operations. The walk was educational for all as Prisby shared trail design strategies with the group while Jetter shared best practices for quarries.
Trail enthusiast Bryant Lindsey took BRTA President Beth Heile on a tour of the Morganton Waste Water Plant Property and the Skeet Range.
After 3 zoom meetings and 10 site visits, the proposed Catawba River Trail Corridor was revealed at a drop in public input meeting at the outdoor Pavilion behind Connelly Springs Town Hall. Attendees reviewed the maps, discussed the routes and provide additional feedback.
Volunteers with Catawba River Wildlife Coalition and Friends of the Valdese Rec participated in the Catawba Riversweep on Saturday by cleaning the river from Rocky Ford Access to Huffman Bridge. The 10 volunteers collected 10 bags of trash along the 4.5 mile route. Yes, that is a hippity hop!
Part of the cleanup was checking the shoreline on the south side of the river for the future Burke River Trail.
The planning team for the Catawba River Trail (former working title – Burke River Trail) met with a surprising partner on Wednesday. Vulcan Materials Company owns property on the river in Morganton which would provide about one-half mile of trail along the waterfront and is interested in sharing their natural resources with their neighbors.
The Burke River Trail town tour continues had stops in Rhodhiss and Hildebran this week. On Monday, Representative Blackwell, FVR President Beth Heile and representatives from Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG) got a tour of Town of Rhodhiss from new Town Manager Rick Justice. Justice took the group to the Rhodhiss Boat Access on Weaver Lane which would be an incredible stop on the trail with restrooms and parking. The town-owned Horseshoe Trail Park was also a must see. It includes a walking path across the old dam, kayak launch, and views of the current Rhodhiss Dam. Robin Nicholson, Duke Energy Government and Community Relations said Duke Energy has archived pictures of the construction of Rhodhiss Dam that could be used for educational signage along the trail near the dam.
After Rutherford College Mayor Gary McClure and Town Manager Kenneth Geathers met with planners from Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG) to learn more, they are on board with what the trail will bring to Rutherford College.
Morganton City Manager Sally Sandy was more than ready for the visit from the Burke River Trail planning team which included Representative Blackwell, Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG) GIS Analyst Todd Stroupe and Beth Heile. The City of Morganton had explored the idea of expanding the Catawba River Greenway to the east in the past and Sandy’s staff was full of ideas and route suggestions. The greenway continuation is in line with the Burke River Trail that Representative Blackwell is spearheading with the goal of improving the health of citizens and the health of local economies.
