About the Carolina Thread Trail
The Carolina Thread Trail is your regional network of connected greenways, trails and blueways that reaches 15 counties, 2 states and 2.9 million people. There are over 300 miles of trails and 170 miles of blueway open to the public – linking people to places, and communities to each other. The Thread Trail preserves our natural areas and is a place for recreation, transportation and conservation. This is a landmark project that provides public and community benefits for people of every age, every background and in every community in our region.
(source: The Carolina Thread Trail | Regional Network of Trails)
Timeline in Lowell
- 2009 - The City of Lowell signed a resolution of support for the Carolina Thread Trail's Master Plan for Gaston County Communities. This resolution acknowledged the Carolina Thread Trail's effort to work with neighboring communities to plan, design, and build trails that will connect our communities.
- January 2022: The Carolina Thread Trail awarded the City of Lowell $8,000 to fund the design of a potential future extension of the South Fork Trail, which would eventually connect to George Poston Park. Read the full press release here.
- March 2023—The Carolina Thread Trail awarded the City of Lowell $127,080 to construct a trail connecting George Poston Park, the future Lowell River Park, and the River Heights neighborhood with the sidewalks on North Main Street. This trail segment will be part of the Matthews-Belk South Fork River Corridor. The City of Lowell will match this grant award with $50,000. Read the full press release here.
- March 2024 - bid documents are under review.
- December 2024 - Construction is anticipated to begin.
Connectivity to Spencer Mountain Overlook and Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
To the north of us, Gaston County also received an award to construct a trail connecting George Poston Park to the base of Spencer Mountain.
In February of 2024, a trail easement agreement was made between the Catawba Lands Conservancy and WBTV, which will allow public trails to the top of Spencer Mountain in Gaston County, N.C. The trails will be part of the Carolina Thread Trail network.
To the south of us, the Town of McAdenville received an award to construct a segment of River Link Trail southward to meet the Town of Cramerton’s trail
project, eventually connecting the two towns.
When complete, the trails at Spencer Mountain will connect to Gaston County’s George Poston Park, linking it through Lowell, to the larger Matthews-Belk South Fork River Corridor that will extend 23 miles to Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden near the South Carolina state line.