Greenways

Clarke creek greenway / cox mill loop

Clarke Creek is one of the major tributaries of the Rocky River in Concord. When completed, the 5.2-mile Clarke Creek greenway will directly connect the Allen Mills, Winding Walk, Highland Creek, Cristenbury, Granary Oaks and Edenton neighborhoods with the future JE ‘Jim’ Ramseur Park, Cox Mill elementary and high schools, Carolina International School, the future Poplar Tent Trailhead Park—from there crossing into the Rocky River basin with a future connection to the Hector H. Henry Greenway system. It will be connected to future multi-use path along Cox Mill Road, creating a loop.

Coddle creek Greenway

Coddle Creek is one of the major tributaries of the Rocky River, bisecting the City and stretching south from the Don T. Howell Reservoir to its confluence with the Rocky River near Rocky River Road and High Meadows Drive in unincorporated Cabarrus County. Three main phases of future greenway are proposed for Coddle Creek: a section within Dorton Park with connectivity to Poplar Crossing and extension to Weddington Road and George Liles Parkway; an extension from Weddington Road to Concord Parkway/Concord Farms Road; and extension from Dorton Park north to Concord’s jurisdictional boundary with the City of Kannapolis (Afton Ridge area).

Afton Run Greenway

Info: The Afton Run section is a 0.5-mile paved asphalt greenway connection between Dorton Park and the parking lot at the Rowan Cabarrus WMCA (West Cabarrus Branch). Opened in 2022, it is often used as a walking loop through the Afton Village neighborhood utilizing neighborhood sidewalks, the greenway and the existing 1-mile+ of trails in Dorton Park. Public parking is available at Dorton Park and the West Cabarrus YMCA.

Parking: 

Dorton Park (map)
West Cabarrus YMCA (map)
 

George W. Liles Greenway

Info: The George Liles Greenway is a 1.3-mile out-and-back (2.6-mile total) asphalt and concrete greenway along George W. Liles Parkway and picturesque rolling farmland, with an extensive boardwalk bridge. The greenway currently terminates near Concord Parkway S/US 29. 

Parking:

Willow Oaks Crossing (Publix) (map)

Map:

Coddle Creek - George W. Liles

Hector H Henry Ii Greenway

The Hector Henry Greenway includes three unique segments alongside the Rocky River. See wildlife in a wetland habitats, with enviromental education displays, boardwalks, and observation decks. The greenway is a part of the regional Carolina Thread Trail system to link approximately 2.3 million people in fifteen counties in North and South Carolina. 

Moss Creek 

Info: The 1.5-mile long Moss Creek section of the greenway begins at a trailhead parking lot at Odell Primary School on Moss Farms Street NW, extending north along the Rocky River past a number of wetlands, a pond with overlook, and to neighborhood connections at Alexia Court, Astoria Lane and Marquette Street in the Moss Creek neighborhood. Numerous species of native and migrant waterfowl and other wildlife congregate in the wetland areas; providing a wonderful birdwatching experience.

Parking:

Odell Primary School (map)

Map:

Hector H. Henry II - Moss Creek

Riverwalk 

Info: This 2.75-mile stretch of greenway extends along the Rocky River from the Weddington Road Bark Park and Concord Fire Station 11 to the Embassy Suites Hotel, and to a neighborhood connection at Clover Drive NW in the Riverwalk neighborhood. From Weddington Road to Embassy Suites is approximately 1.45-miles; from Weddington Road to Clover Drive is 1.3-miles. This greenway also features the first three panels of permanent public art installed along any greenway in Concord, designed by tenant artists at ClearWater Arts Center and Studios in the Gibson Village neighborhood and fabricated by Jim Gallucci Sculptor, Inc. in Greensboro out of Cor-Ten steel with a self-healing rust patina. They depict beautiful renditions of bird life that can be found in the adjacent natural area.

Parking:

Embassy Suites (map)
Weddington Road Bark Park (map)

Map:

Hector H. Henry II - Riverwalk

The Mills at Rocky River 

Info: The Mills at Rocky River is a 2.67-mile section of the greenway is a natural surface (mainly gravel and dirt) begins at a trailhead parking area accessible from Drake Mill Lane SW near Rocky River Road. The trail itself is uneven and somewhat rocky in some places with significant elevation, and fairly smooth gravel and dirt in others; but features great woodland views of flora and fauna, and unique viewing points of the Rocky River as it grows in size heading downstream. The ruins of a former roadway bridge over the river are an often-photographed vantage point. The trail currently extends to neighborhood connections at Millstone Circle SW and Drake Mill Lane SW, and ends at the confluence of the Rocky River and Reedy Creek. 

Parking:

The Mills at Rocky River Trail Head (map)

Irish buffalo creek Greenway

Irish Buffalo Creek is one of five major stream corridors proposed for greenways within the City; the Concord corridor extends from its undercrossing of Interstate 85 (and future connection to Vietnam Veterans Park in the City of Kannapolis) to its confluence with Coldwater Creek near Flowe Store Road. The creek basin includes a number of tributaries with proposed greenway sections.

Village Greenway

Info: The Village Greenway is 0.5 miles of concrete sidewalk and paved asphalt trail, extending from Spring Street at the Boys & Girls Club of Concord past the historic Academy Recreation Center/Webb Field/McAllister Pool complex, bridging Academy Branch, past the ClearWater Arts Center & Studios, and terminating at Kerr Street NW, the site of the future skate park and bicycle pump track—two elements of the 2022 Park Bond package. Parking is available at the Academy Recreation Center.

Parking:

Academy Recreation Center (map)
Webb Field (map)

Map:

Irish Buffalo Creek - Village

mceachern Greenway

The McEachern Greenway is one of Concord’s most-used greenways. The present 2.2-mile length runs along Three-Mile Branch between the current terminus near Hatley Circle NE (north of Wilson Park), under Cabarrus Avenue E, connecting to Patterson Avenue NE and the Downtown Connector, through JW ‘Mickey’ McGee Park, under Corban Avenue SE to a terminus with vehicle parking at Les Myers Park on Lawndale Avenue SE. 

McEachern Greenway

Info:  Greenway trail lengths are approximately 1 mile from McGee Park to Less Myers Park; and approximately 1.2-mile from McGee Park to the turnaround north of the Wilson Park trailhead.

Parking:

Myers Park (map)
McGee Park (map)
Wilson Street Park (map)

McEachern Greenway Downtown Connector

Info: The Downtown Connector is a paved greenway trail connection between McAchern Boulevard SE at the Concord main US Post Office and McGee Park, which is a gateway to the McEachern Greenway itself. A number of LifeTrail fitness stations are provided along the Connector.

Parking:

McGee Park (map)
Downtown Concord (map)

Downtown Greenway Loop 

Info: The Downtown Greenway Loop is an approximately 4-mile stroll or jog along paved greenway trails and sidewalks along the McEachern Greenway, Downtown Connector and city sidewalks. Starting at McGee Park, the Loop follows the greenway to Les Myers Park; it then follows sidewalk along Lawndale Avenue SE and a short off-street connector to Patton Court SE, then along Union Street S to Means Avenue; then along Means Avenue to the US Post Office, where the Downtown Connector leads back to McGee Park.

Parking:

Myers Park (map)
McGee Park (map)
Downtown Concord (map)

Map:

McEachern - Downtown Loop

Other Trails

The City of Concord is dedicated to providing connectivity for its citizens within the City's limits...

Brown Mill Mountain Bike Trail Park

Info: 4.25 miles of beginner to high skill mountain bike trails. For Open/Closed information vist the Tarheel Trailblazers.

Parking:

2nd Street SW (map)

Greenway Planning

Open Space Connectivity Analysis