Trails and Greenways Master Plan Update

Transcription

1 s ad Greeways Master Pla Update Prepared by City of Rock Hill Plaig Services ad Parks, Recreatio, & Tourism Departmets with assistace from the Catawba Regioal Coucil of Govermets Pla Adopted: Jue 16, 2003 Update Adopted: April 28, 2008

2 s ad Greeways Master Pla Update for the City of Rock Hill, SC Prepared by City of Rock Hill Plaig Services ad Parks, Recreatio, & Tourism Departmets with assistace from the Catawba Regioal Coucil of Govermets Pla Adopted: Jue 16, 2003 Update Adopted: April 28, 2008

3 Rock Hill s ad Greeways Advisory Committee Members: Duae Christopher, Chairperso Ro Call, Vice Chairperso Susa Collier George Davis Marily Hakim Dick Houk Susa Marks Phyllis Marti Sarah Morga Mickey Taylor Master Pla Update Core Team: Ed Thompso, Parks, Recreatio ad Tourism Sta Se, Parks, Recreatio ad Tourism Fraces Thomas, Plaig Services Christie Fisher, Plaig Services Curtis Bridges, Plaig Services Master Pla Update Project Team: Holly Eskridge, City Maagemet Bill Meyer, Developmet Services Stephe Turer, Ecoomic ad Urba Developmet Doie Messer, Ecoomic ad Urba Developmet Ed Thompso, Parks, Recreatio ad Tourism Sta Se, Parks, Recreatio ad Tourism Fraces Thomas, Plaig Services Christie Fisher, Plaig Services Curtis Bridges, Plaig Services Bobby Baks, Public Works Jimmy Bagley, Utilities Nick Stegall, Utilities Scott Turer, Utilities 5/15/2008 Page i of 47

4 Reviewed ad Edorsed By: Rock Hill s & Greeways Advisory Committee Rock Hill Ecoomic Developmet Corporatio Quality of Life Group Rock Hill Accommodatios Tax ad Tourism Commissio Rock Hill Public Parks ad Recreatio Commissio Rock Hill Plaig Commissio 5/15/2008 Page ii of 47

5 Imagie walkig out your frot door, gettig o a bicycle or simply doig your backpack, ad, withi miutes of your home, settig off alog a cotiuous etwork of recreatio corridors Presidet s Commissio o Americas Outdoors We eed to make sure that our sidewalk systems throughout the commuity have coectability. Aythig we ca do to improve walkability, we re goig to be better off log term i the city. i Mayor Doug Echols Good urba plaig that has people walkig ad bicyclig ad keepig cars off the road would be the best solutio to some of the problems we have. ii Joe Zdeek, Chairma of Hery s Kob group of the Sierra Club Accordig to a 2002 survey of the citizes of Rock Hill, 58 percet of respodets rated the ease of walkig i Rock Hill as fair or poor. iii 5/15/2008 Page iii of 47

6 Table of Cotets: I. Overview... 1 A. Why Develop a ad Greeway System?... 1 B. Defiitios... 2 C. Beefits of a ad Greeway System... 2 D. Plaig Process ad Work Products... 4 E. A Word About Safety... 7 F. Coordiatio With Regioal Efforts... 7 II. Existig Facilities A. s B. Sidewalks C. Other s III. Proposed Facilities A. Proposed Facilities B. Support Facilities C. Public Acceptace Policies IV. Desig & Maiteace A. Categories B. Desig Guidelies C. Exteral Iflueces D. Site Coditios V. Implemetatio Strategies A. s ad Greeways Advisory Committee B. New Developmet Requiremets C. Road Improvemet Requiremets D. Utility Rights-of-way E. Evirometally-Friedly s F. Coordiatio G. Adopt-a H. Bicycle-Friedly Commuity I. Prioritizig s J. Desig Guidelies K. Implemetatio Actio Pla L. Esure Proper Maiteace of s & Sidewalks withi Network APPENDICES: APPENDIX A: Rock Hill Area s ad Greeways System Map...36 APPENDIX B: Rock Hill Area s ad Greeways Ivetory List...38 APPENDIX C: Rock Hill Area s ad Greeways Implemetatio Actio Pla /15/2008 Page iv of 47

7 List of Tables: Table 4.1: Categories...25 Table 4.2: s ad Greeways System Desig Guidelies...26 Table A.1: & Sidewalk Projects Summary...42 Table A.2: Capital Budget Fudig Sources FY2008/09 FY2017/18)...43 Table A.3: Costructio Cost Estimates per Liear Foot 2008 Dollars)...44 Table A.4: s & Greeways Capital Projects Schedule...46 List of Figures: Figure 4.1: Typical Multi-Use Cross-Sectio...27 Figure 4.2: Typical Greeway Cross-Sectio...28 Figure 4.3: Typical Greeway Vegetatio Clearig Guidelies /15/2008 Page v of 47

8 I. Overview I Jue 2003, the City of Rock Hill adopted its first s ad Greeways Master Pla - the product of a two ad oe-half year effort led by the Rock Hill s ad Greeways Task Force. The mai focus of the 2003 Pla was to coect major destiatios, primarily by sidewalk. At that time oly miles of trails had bee costructed, mostly withi existig parks. Sice the, the City s existig trail etwork has grow to early 46.5 miles! The primary itet of the s ad Greeways Master Pla Update is to build o the existig trail system by creatig a more comprehesive etwork ad extedig the etwork to the Urba Services Area USA). The update icorporates Rock Hill s Ope Space Pla, adopted i 2006, ad couty ad regioal iitiatives to promote coectivity. Additioally, the update establishes a implemetatio pla to ecourage timely costructio of trail facilities. Buildig upo existig plaig efforts ad facilities, the Master Pla Update cotais detailed trail corridor recommedatios ad guidelies, which together form a comprehesive etwork. A. Why Develop a ad Greeway System? Imagie miles ad miles of gree. Trees, wildflowers, sparklig streams ad rivers, aimals ad birds, sights ad souds, peace ad quiet, fresh air ad sushie. Walk, jog, or bike to hikig trails ad walkig paths, past protected atural areas, historic ladmarks, learig ceters ad shoppig ceters, all sorts of recreatioal ameities, shaded sidewalks ad rest areas. Picture Rock Hill residets of all ages ad abilities, stayig fit, ejoyig the outdoors, walkig, bikig, ad joggig their way to work or school, learig about the atural eviromet ad their place i it ad all of these activities takig place close to home, right here i Rock Hill. The South Carolia State s Program defies commuity trails ad greeways as etworks of gree spaces or trail systems. More importatly, a commuity trail ad greeway system ca be used as a tool for a ew way of lookig at the overall quality of life ad itercoectedess of our city. A trails ad greeway system will protect the atural resources that make our commuity uique as it itegrates these assets ito the ladscapes ad lives of its citizes. Eve with certai overarchig guidelies for structure ad safety, each segmet of a trail ad greeway system ca be ehaced ad flavored by the area it comes i cotact with. No facet of city plaig or desig is isolated from the others. I order to effect a successful implemetatio of these ideas, it s ecessary to coect the dots, so to speak. A trail ad greeway system does just that, both literally ad figuratively. We do t protect or care about what we do t kow. To chage that, the logical ext step is to provide a physical meas. I this case, it is a trail ad greeway system that provides that coectio withi the commuity, brigig the people to, aroud, ad through the city. ad greeway systems are limited oly by our imagiatio, followig ma-made as well as atural features of the lad ad water they cross. These ribbos of gree space will ot oly ehace recreatioal ad fitess opportuities but also serve as tools that help Rock Hill itegrate ad maage decisios about lad maagemet, its use ad coservatio, as well as ecoomic iitiatives. Coectivity will build commuity. Improved health ehaces recreatio optios throughout the city. Ecoomics ad trasportatio affect each other every day. The eviromet, good or bad, has some kid of a effect o everythig. I a sese, a trail ad 5/15/2008 Page 1 of 47

9 greeway system is what we as commuity citizes make it: takig our health, recreatio, trasportatio, ecoomic, ad evirometal eeds ad itegratig them ito our atural resources right here at home, right here i Rock Hill. B. Defiitios The followig is a list of commoly used terms foud throughout this documet., Multi-Purpose: A access way, whether paved or upaved, that is iteded to serve multiple modes of travel icludig walkig, joggig, bicyclig, or other forms of o-motorized trasport. Multi-purpose trails ted to coect sigificat destiatios. Bikeway: A desigated bike lae or o-street bike route reserved for bicycle-oly usage. Greeway: A greeway is a corridor of ope space that follows a atural feature such as a woodlad, river, stream or floodplai or mamade, such as abadoed railroad beds ad utility corridors. These liear greebelts lik various types of developmet by such facilities as evirometally sesitive bicycle paths, footpaths, ad bridle paths. Greeways are usually kept i their atural state except for the pathway ad areas immediately adjacet to the pathway. Sidewalk: A paved pedestria walkway alog the side of a street. Surface, Pervious/Permeable: Material that allows fluid to pass or diffuse through. Pervious surfaces cosist of materials that permit water to permeate ito the groud by virtue of their porous ature or by large spaces i the material. Surface, Impervious: Material that fluid caot pass or diffuse through. Impervious surfaces cosist of a hard surface that prevets or retards the etry of water ito the soil or causes water to ru off the surface i greater quatities tha the flow preset uder atural coditios. Commuity Greeway: Commuity greeways ad trails are etworks of gree space or trail systems. Bollard: A woode, cocrete, or metal pole that serves as a barrier to uauthorized vehicular access to a trail. Bollards are typically arraged i a row across the trail at access poits. C. Beefits of a ad Greeway System The beefits of a trail ad greeway system ca be grouped ito five categories: health, recreatio, trasportatio, ecoomic, ad evirometal. These beefits are iterrelated to a great extet. For example, a perso who walks to work o a greeway may be primarily usig it as a trasportatio facility. I additio to the obvious trasportatio beefits, this perso also realizes health, evirometal, ad most likely recreatio beefits as well. The followig sectios summarize the beefits provided by a extesive trail ad greeway system. 5/15/2008 Page 2 of 47

10 Health Health beefits are geerally take most seriously. Recet studies support that overall, South Caroliias are ot a active people. As a state, we are still well below the atioal average for the umber of people who are physically active. A 1999 study by The Prevetio Research Ceter at the Uiversity of South Carolia School of Public Health foud that the lack of physical activity causes early 2,000 deaths aually ad costs the state $157 millio or more aually i hospital charges. iv Much has bee writte about exercise as a effective tool for reducig the icidece of heart disease ad diabetes. Ad who does t kow about how a sedetary lifestyle relates to obesity. Recet studies by the Ceter for Disease Cotrol support that the most effective activity programs are those that are modest i itesity ad therefore sustaiable, idividualized, ad icorporated ito a perso s daily life. Of all the outdoor activities ejoyed by South Caroliias, the most popular is walkig, beig both sustaiable ad time-efficiet. Research has also show that, if more walkig trails are built i a area, the umber of users icreases ad so does their time o the trails. Eticig people out o to the trails or oto a greeway that coects differet areas of the city makes for a commuity welless project i the most literal sese. s ad greeways ca have extraordiary health beefits while they offer ew strategies for promotig health ad welless to our commuity. Recreatio Recreatio is ofte aliged with all the health beefits it affords. The additio of a commuity trail ad greeway system provides safe routes for recreatioal activities like walkig ad bicyclig, which leads to better health. But as all recreatio ethusiasts ca tell you, recreatio ca be a ed i ad of itself. Few thigs here i Rock Hill would ehace opportuities for the optimal use of our free time as much as a trail ad greeway system. Well-desiged greeways ad trails coect both atural ad cultural features i a commuity, as well as eighborhoods to parks ad schools. This would ope up all sorts of opportuities. Aside from the physical exercise, which would probably be its most obvious use, the trail ad greeway system could coect shoppig ceters with soccer fields, learig ceters with outdoor laboratories, gardes with playgrouds, dowtow ad uiversity areas with restaurats ad theaters. Edless possibilities will ope up, all of them depedet o the huma eergy eeded to get the participats to where they would wat to be. Trasportatio Trasportatio problems are a commo headache to city plaers. The biggest deterret to icreased o-motorized trasportatio is lack of facilities, ot distace. Studies show that oequarter of trips are oe mile or less, half are three miles or less, ad two-thirds are less tha five miles. Visitors from other urba areas ad foreig coutries ofte remark that they miss ot beig able to bike or safely walk to work. Their pocket books suffer alog with their health. While bike paths ad walkig trails are ot a sure-fire solutio to every urba problem, they do mea fewer trips by motor vehicles ad less air pollutio, fewer parkig spaces eeded, ad less depedecy o foreig oil. The trail ad greeway system has the potetial to reduce the umber of trips take by car ad therefore reduce the maiteace required for the roadway system. 5/15/2008 Page 3 of 47

11 Ecoomic Ecoomic beefits of a trail ad greeway system to Rock Hill are impressive. These corridors for recreatio ehace property values because atural ope spaces ad trails are prime attractios for potetial homebuyers. Three out of four homebuyers rated these attributes as either essetial or very importat i their search for the right commuity. A urba desig that offered a trail ad greeway system such as that beig proposed by this Master Pla raked i the top three items for commuity ecessities that ehace quality of life. More tha 60 percet of property owers alog these corridors have oted a icrease i their property values. v s geerate tourism ad recreatio-related spedig. The trail-related expeditures for goods ad services, as well as the jobs coected with the sale of these products, are reflected i the ecoomic health of the commuity. The moey flows ot oly to ad from Rock Hill residets, but from visitors who will make this city a sought-after destiatio i their recreatio ameity migratio. Evirometal Evirometal quality of life i Rock Hill would be eormously ehaced by a trail ad greeway system. They are ofte costructed alog tree-lied lads ad these corridors preserve ad protect these areas from developmet ad over-use. Greeways ca also serve as stream buffers that help preserve water quality. Public opiio i this commuity seems to idicate that further developmet eeds to be both sesible ad sustaiable. Ay reductio i automobile use as a evirometal boost goes without sayig. Providig wise-use recreatioal opportuities helps to preserve the small tow atmosphere that citizes have said they wat to retai for future geeratios. Some feel that we are losig touch with our lads ad our sese of place i it. Our childre are growig up eco-phobic istead of eco-friedly, with virtual lives istead of real oes. A trail ad greeway system is oe of the best ways to establish a recoectio with ourselves, our families, our commuity, ad the atural world aroud us. D. Plaig Process ad Work Products The Update Schedule ad Process The Master Pla Update is the product of cotributios from citize committees, various City departmets, local stakeholders, ad regioal plaig parters. These cotributors iclude Rock Hill s s & Greeways Committee ad the followig departmets: Parks, Recreatio, ad Tourism, Plaig Services, Developmet Services, Utilities, Ecoomic Developmet, ad Public Works; the Catawba Coucil of Govermets COG); ad York Couty Plaig Departmet. The followig timelie describes the major milestoes i the Master Pla update process: October Project Team Meetig Ivetory Update Kickoff October 12, 2007 Staff resposible Core Team) for the s & Greeways Master Pla Update met with City departmet heads o October 12 with a explaatio of the eed for a update ad expected outcomes of the update process. This collectio of departmet heads ad key staff from multiple City departmets is idetified as the Project Team. The goal of the kickoff meetig was to receive iput from each departmet o City ad private developmet plas impactig the trail etwork. At this meetig, City departmets were charged with iformig staff of the update ad 5/15/2008 Page 4 of 47

12 its goals, ad providig feedback from a departmetal perspective. This feedback came i the form a ivetory of re)developmet corridors, utility cocers, eighborhood focus areas, future employmet/residetial hubs, importat destiatios, major site plas, recreatioal areas, ad potetial obstacles. Regular Core Team ad City Staff Meetigs October 2007 Jauary 2008 The s & Greeways Master Pla Update Core Team was comprised of staff from the Parks, Recreatio, & Tourism PRT) ad Plaig Services Departmets. These staff members were resposible for maagig all iput from stakeholders both public ad private); schedulig ad coordiatig all meetig ad workshops; ad producig a completed master pla. The core team met several times betwee September of 2007 ad March of I additio to regular meetigs, staff from the two departmets have coordiated with each other i attedig ad presetig iformatio durig regioal meetigs. Jauary Project Team Meetig - Jauary 22, 2008 Core Team staff met with the Project Team agai i Jauary 2008 to receive approval of the s & Greeways System Ivetory Map, a major compoet of the work pla ad update process. All relevat iput ad cocers were cofirmed ad icorporated ito the plaig process. Presetatio to s & Greeways Committee - February 4, 2008 Core Team staff held a workshop with the Rock Hill s & Greeways Advisory Committee. The purpose of the workshop was to review the s ad Greeways System Ivetory Map ad receive committee feedback, iput, ad recommedatios. The committee cotributed historical kowledge of trail developmet i the City, as well as iformatio o curret ad future trail locatios. The s & Greeways Advisory Committee recommeded approval of the ivetory map ad process. Presetatio to City Groups ad Committees - March 2008 I March of 2008, Core Team staff preseted the updated s & Greeways Map ad other iformatio to several importat City boards ad commissios for approval. These groups icluded: Rock Hill s & Greeways Advisory Committee Follow-up presetatio) Rock Hill Ecoomic Developmet Corporatio Quality of Life Group Rock Hill Accommodatios Tax ad Tourism Commissio Rock Hill Public Parks ad Recreatio Commissio I April 2008 the Master Pla update was preseted to Rock Hill Plaig Commissio ad City Coucil. City Coucil adopted the updated Master Pla o April 28, The fial work products resultig from the s & Greeways Master Pla Update are the s & Greeways System Map Appedix A), Ivetory List Appedix B) ad the Implemetatio Actio Pla Appedix C). s & Greeways System Map ad Ivetory List Because the primary focus of the update was to create a comprehesive etwork of trails, the s & Greeways System Map bega as a Ivetory Map. This map was created as the primary referece tool i idetifyig all existig ad plaed trail facilities withi Rock Hill as 5/15/2008 Page 5 of 47

13 well as all sigificat costraits ad cosideratios, both withi ad outside of City limits, which will affect future trail recommedatios. The ivetory map icludes the followig: s previously idetified i the Master Pla Sidewalks essetial to maitaiig a effective trail etwork Public ad private schools Importat destiatios Upcomig developmet projects Streams ad evirometally sesitive areas Trasit stops Utility easemets ad rights-of-way Recommeded coectios Ope space plaig Several overlays were the added to the map to put the physical ad geographical features ad the trail etwork ito cotext. These overlays icluded: Couty System Neighborhood Plas Major Destiatios Ope Space Focus Areas Livable City Lad Uses Evirometally Sesitive Areas Rock Hill Urba Services Area Recommeded coectios are the most importat elemet of the ivetory map. These trails ad sidewalks) evolve ito proposed trails, as they address previous gaps ad missig liks withi the trail etwork. The Core Team idetified six criteria used to evaluate the iclusio of recommeded coectios withi the etwork. These criteria are: Coectivity Fillig i gaps/discoects withi the City ad coordiatig with Couty ad regioal iitiatives Creatig a Outer Loop Utilizig udevelopable lad Usig ew ad existig easemets or rights-of-way Supportig Rock Hill s USA ad East Corridor Growth Strategy Utilizig sidewalks at key locatios s & Greeways Implemetatio Actio Pla There is a suggested Implemetatio Pla which cotais all iformatio ecessary to budget for ad see idividual trails through to costructio. The foudatio of the implemetatio pla is based o aalysis of importat trail etwork coectios idetified i the ivetory map ad recommedatios by the s & Greeways Advisory Committee. Idividual trails were evaluated for legth, locatio, costructio materials, ad schedulig. The implemetatio pla icludes recommedatios o trail desig, placemet, prioritizatio, ad fudig; as well as backgroud ad recommedatios o local ad regioal coordiatio. 5/15/2008 Page 6 of 47

14 E. A Word About Safety Numerous studies have show that trails do ot cause a icrease i crime or do they provide a have for drug users. vi A trail with lawful users preset is ot a welcomig eviromet for crimials. The fear that crimials will target properties ear trails ad use the trails as a getaway route is simply ufouded based o the experiece of commuities with trails. Uiform desig ad maiteace stadards will help esure the safety of the trail system. A safety beefit of the trail ad greeway system will be to provide safe routes for bikig ad walkig i areas where people are curretly forced to walk or bike o or beside busy roads without bike ad pedestria accommodatios. Rock Hill s experiece with the existig trails has bee that they are geerally safe places to be. While assaults do occasioally occur o trails, such icidets are far more commo i residetial ad commercial areas. Fears of attacks o trail users ca be allayed with commo sese solutios such as ot usig the trails aloe or at ight ad maitaiig awareess of their surroudigs at all times. Like every other state, South Carolia has a Recreatioal Use Statute vii. Uder these statutes, o ladower, who allows recreatio to the public o their lad free of charge, is liable for recreatio ijuries resultig from mere carelessess. Cocers about the City s liability should be o greater tha the liability cocers preseted by the existig City parks, streets, sidewalks, ad buildigs. I order to avoid ay safety, crime, ad liability problems, these thigs should be take ito accout durig the desig of the trails. Ladowers ad other stakeholders should be brought ito the plaig process ad educated o the beefits of trails. Proposed trails should be reviewed by public safety officials to esure that potetial problems are avoided. F. Coordiatio With Regioal Efforts Regioal trail systems offer a meas for multiple govermetal jurisdictios ad private orgaizatios to achieve umerous desired outcomes, icludig ecoomic developmet, coservatio, alterative trasportatio ifrastructure, ehaced quality of life, ad regioal cooperatio. The trails ad greeways etwork withi Rock Hill ca be exteded beyod the borders of the City by coectig ito regioal ad statewide trail systems beig plaed by other agecies ad orgaizatios. A Urba Services Area USA) boudary was established as part of the 2000 Livable City Lad Use Pla. I the Sprig of 2005, City ad Couty staff collaborated to update the USA boudary which was later adopted by City Coucil i The boudary is iteded to be a growth maagemet tool that provides a outer limit for plaed urba growth ad allow for the logical extesio of services icludig parks, trails, ad greeways. Existece of this boudary provides the City with a opportuity to collaborate with York Couty ad ew commuities as to how areas will be coverted from rural to urba use. The followig sectios summarize efforts that are uderway i the regio relatig to trails ad greeways. May of these efforts exted beyod the Rock Hill City limits as well as beyod the USA boudary. These regioal ad statewide efforts provide the City the opportuity to maximize coordiatio amog agecies, commuities, ad trail groups. 5/15/2008 Page 7 of 47

15 State Programs South Carolia Departmet of Parks Recreatio ad Tourism SCPRT) The South Carolia Departmet of Parks, Recreatio ad Tourism SCPRT) operates the cetral trails program for the State. The State s Program provides techical assistace, awards ad maages grats, ad serves as a clearighouse for a variety of trail related activity across the State. The guidig documet for SCPRT is the State Comprehesive Outdoor Recreatio Pla SCORP). This documet serves as a guide ad iformatioal resource for South Carolia s local govermet agecies as well. The 2008 SCORP is achored by the followig six goals: Goal 1: Goal 2: Goal 3: Goal 4: Goal 5: Goal 6: To cotiue a plaig process for outdoor recreatio which provides coordiatio with other agecies ad orgaizatios, implemets the approved pla, ad adjusts the pla periodically for the chagig eeds of the populatio ad visitors. To provide the people of South Carolia ad its visitors with a balaced ad comprehesive recreatio system of public ad private lad ad sites. To provide South Caroliias ad visitors opportuities to uderstad ad ejoy the State's historic ad atural heritage. To provide to all segmets of the populatio opportuities for outdoor recreatio experieces ad a improved quality of life. To ecourage cooperative efforts betwee various agecies ad levels of govermet, betwee private eterprise ad govermet, ad betwee voluteers ad resource maagers. To ecourage sustaiable developmet ad give cosideratio to the local ecoomic, social, ad atural resource impacts resultig from the locatio ad developmet of recreatio areas. Rock Hill will icrease the umber of opportuities for SCPRT fudig for City projects, ad trail projects i particular, by esurig that idividual projects address each of the goals listed above. The South Carolia State s Pla etitled Expadig the Experiece was adopted i The pla outlies the beefits of a statewide trail system, sets goals for the system, provides summary iformatio o existig ad proposed trails, ad idetifies issues to be cosidered i trail developmet. SCPRT employs a State s Coordiator to provide professioal assistace to trail groups i the state. The Coordiator is available to provide guidace ad advice o all aspects of trails ad greeways, from costructio ad maiteace stadards to advocacy techiques to fudraisig. Resources for both motorized ad o-motorized use of trails are available. The Coordiator also serves as a advocate for South Carolia trails. 5/15/2008 Page 8 of 47

16 South Carolia Departmet of Natural Resources SCDNR) The South Carolia Departmet of Natural Resources SCDNR) is the state agecy madated to protect, coserve, ad maage the states atural resources. Two coservatio programs that are relative to the Rock Hill s ad Greeways effort iclude the Heritage Preserves Program ad the Maaged Lads Program. The Heritage Trust Program was created i 1976 to preserve those atural features ad cultural remais which are fast disappearig as the State grows. The Program's purpose is to ivetory, evaluate ad protect edagered plat ad aimal species ad areas of historical, cultural, ad archaeological sigificace. Over 67,000 acres have bee permaetly protected by 50 Heritage Preserves i 25 differet couties. The preserves are ope for public educatioal ad recreatioal uses durig daylight hours i accordace with Heritage Preserves regulatios. Most have hikig trails ad other opportuities for ature viewig. The Rock Hill Blackjacks Heritage Preserve is a 291 acre tract that provides permaet protectio for the Schweiitz s Suflower. There are four maaged tracts i York Couty that iclude more tha 1,300 acres. Maaged Lads are cotrolled through owership, easemet, or lease rights. South Carolia Sceic Rivers Act The purpose of the State Sceic Rivers Program is to coserve ad protect uique ad outstadig river resources throughout South Carolia. To accomplish this purpose, a voluteer, cooperative, ad o-regulatory maagemet program has bee created which ivolves ladowers, commuity iterests, ad the Departmet of Natural Resources DNR) workig together to coserve ad protect desigated sceic river corridors. Desigatig a State Sceic River requires legislative actio by the South Carolia Geeral Assembly; however, the desigatio process begis at the local level ad the DNR seeks the support of the local citizes, ladowers, ad the muicipal ad couty govermets of the affected couties durig the eligibility process. A 30-mile segmet of the Catawba River is beig proposed for desigatio as a State Sceic River uder the South Carolia Sceic Rivers Act 1989). The study area ad the proposed State Sceic River iclude the 30-mile river corridor withi Chester, Lacaster, ad York couties that begis at the base of the Lake Wylie Dam o the Catawba River ad exteds dow river to the S.C. Highway #9 Bridge betwee Lacaster ad Chester couties. The Catawba River Eligibility Study for the SC Sceic Rivers Program presets the fidigs ad recommedatios of a sceic river eligibility study coducted i 2007 by the South Carolia Departmet of Natural Resources SCDNR), Habitat Protectio Sectio ad the Sceic Rivers Program. This report was reviewed through a public hearig process withi the study area i Jauary Bill S-1158 is curretly beig cosidered by the South Carolia Legislature ad is expected to be approved durig the 2008 Legislative Sessio. South Carolia Coservatio Bak Siged ito law i 2002, the South Carolia Coservatio Bak provides fudig for protectio of atural resources through the coservatio of lad across the state. First fuded i 2004 through the documetary stamp tax for ew costructio ad property trasfers, the bak is expected to receive betwee $6 millio ad $10 millio per year to help eligible coservatio orgaizatios purchase lad ad coservatio easemets through direct grats ad low-iterest loas. Coservatio criteria iclude preservatio of sigificat ecological features or habitat, threateed or edagered species, historical or archeological resources, sigificat farm ad 5/15/2008 Page 9 of 47

17 forest lads, greeways ad parklads. Fiacial criteria require reasoable costs for a project, takig ito cosideratio the degree to which a project leverages trust fuds by icludig matchig fuds or i-kid assets or services from other sources. The Coservatio Bak completed its first roud of fudig i December 2004, awardig $11 millio to protect 25,000 acres, icludig a 7.73 acre parcel i Rock Hill. By providig fiacial support, the Coservatio Bak makes it easier for more ladowers to protect property with coservatio easemets. The Coservatio Bak ows o lads. A ladower may sell coserved property to a eligible trust fud recipiet, or sell or doate coservatio easemets ad retai owership ad traditioal use of the lad. Qualified trust fud recipiets i South Carolia iclude the 33 oprofit lad coservatio orgaizatios of the South Carolia Lad Trust Network located throughout the state. South Carolia Bicycle ad Pedestria Program SCDOT) The South Carolia Departmet of Trasportatio Bicycle ad Pedestria Program is committed to meetig the o-goig challege of providig better ad safer accommodatios for people who choose to walk or cycle. Early i 2002, SCDOT lauched a ew iitiative to establish parterships to provide more facilities for bicyclig ad walkig i South Carolia. A Bicycle ad Pedestria Ifrastructure Advisory Committee was formed i Jue 2002, composed of represetatives of the private sector, the Geeral Assembly, other state agecies, ad walkig ad cyclig advocacy groups. This group has ow bee combied with the Beautificatio Advisory Committee to become The Ehacemets Group. I February 2003, the South Carolia Departmet of Trasportatio Commissio directed that bicyclig accommodatios should be a routie part of the Departmet s plaig, desig, costructio ad operatig activities, ad will be icluded i the everyday operatios of the state s trasportatio system. As part of this directive, the Commissio aouced that fuds from the state s Trasportatio Ehacemet program would be dedicated to providig paved shoulders o sectios of the South Carolia Bicycle Tour Route. Palmetto Cyclig Coalitio The Palmetto Cyclig Coalitio is a affiliatio of the bicyclig clubs withi the State desiged to promote o ad off-road bicyclig ad bicyclig-related issues. Its goals are to foster greater commuicatio betwee bicyclig clubs, to serve as a advocacy group for bicyclists, ad improve the bicyclig eviromet withi the State of South Carolia. The Rock Hill Bicycle Club is the local Chapter RHBC). The RHBC serves as a voice for the commuity by promotig cyclig educatio to the geeral public ad members serve o the Rock Hill s ad Greeways Advisory Committee. Regioal Programs UNC Charlotte Urba Istitute The Uiversity of North Carolia Charlotte Urba Istitute s Lad Use ad Evirometal Plaig divisio was created i 2002 to icorporate ad expad upo the work the Istitute had bee doig sice 1996 through the Carolias Lad Coservatio Network later kow as the Ope Space Istitute.) The Carolias Lad Coservatio Network CLCN ) was a uicorporated o-profit orgaizatio oversee by a voluteer Board of Trustees ad housed at the Istitute with a staff of 5/15/2008 Page 10 of 47

18 two a executive director ad a admiistrative assistat) fuded by grats, doatios ad memberships. CLCN s missio was to demostrate that ature ad ecoomic prosperity ca coexist. Durig its six-year existece, CLCN made sigificat cotributios to regioal progress o ope space preservatio issues, by providig forums for the regio s ope space professioals to share iformatio ad experieces, through public cofereces ad workshops, ad through collaborative research ad plaig projects such as the Piedmot Gree Pla growth model, Moutai Islad Lake Watershed Project, ad the Strategic Regioal Ope Space Framework. I 2002, CLCN s Board voted to dissolve itself ad to allow its missio to be carried forward as the Ope Space Istitute withi the Lad Use ad Evirometal Plaig divisio of the UNC Charlotte Urba Istitute. Sice Sprig 2002, the Lad Use ad Evirometal Plaig divisio has worked with couty ad muicipal govermets, Coucils of Govermet, federal agecies, state-wide, regioal ad local foudatios ad o-profits, ad for-profit busiesses o scores of projects. The divisio s projects cover a wide rage of topics, from commuity lad use plaig to watershed coservatio, to regioal growth modelig. Carolia Thread CTT) The Carolia Thread CTT) is a plaed regioal etwork of trails ad greeways that will coect 15 couties ad 2.3 millio citizes i North ad South Carolia, likig people, places, cities, tows ad attractios. South Carolia parters iclude York Couty, Rock Hill, York, Fort Mill, Clover, Tega Cay, ad the Natio Ford Lad Trust. The CTT will create a permaet legacy of coservatio ad will ehace quality of life through commuity coectios, health ad welless promotio ad ecoomic developmet beefits. The Carolia Thread visio evolved from a series of meetigs betwee the Foudatio For The Carolias FFTC) ad more tha 40 commuity ad busiess leaders. This discovery process geerated a set of guidig priciples for couties i the Foudatio for the Carolias' footprit. The Trust for Public Lad TPL) is workig i partership with the FFTC, ad the Catawba Lads Coservacy to pla the trail ad provide the techical expertise for the local govermets wishig to lik to the CTT system. The trail's ame was ispired by the Carolia regio's rich heritage of weavig fabric. This itricate etwork of trails will weave together people, commuities ad ature--coectig Caroliias for geeratios to come. The Carolia Thread will develop over time as commuities build trails that will evetually lik parks, gree spaces ad attractios throughout the regio. Not all local trails ad greeways will become part of the Carolia Thread. Like the Carolia's highway systems, the CTT will develop as a "gree iterstate" focused o likig local trails ad regioally sigificat attractios. The Carolia Thread has begu their missio to build a 15-couty gree iterstate by selectig two couties to host pilot programs, York Couty, SC ad Gasto Couty, NC. Although the route for the trail has ot yet bee established, prelimiary plas i York Couty are to lik several poits of regioal sigificace icludig Nay s Moutai ad Kigs Moutai State Park. Kigs Moutai will provide at least oe lik to Gasto Couty via a trail to Crowder s Moutai State Park. I additio, the trail is tetatively plaed to aid i oe of York Couty s most glarig itermodal issues, a safe pedestria ad bike coectio across the Catawba River. The lik will likely be made at the locatio of the Highway 21 Bridge; tyig i 5/15/2008 Page 11 of 47

19 with the York Couty Museum, Fort Mill, the Ae Sprigs Close Greeway, ad the Natio Ford Greeway. Liks to Lacaster, Chester ad Meckleburg Couties will also be made. Prelimiary plas are to coect to Adrew Jackso State Park i Lacaster Couty, Ladsford Caal State Park i Chester Couty, ad ito Meckleburg Couty by way of the Little Sugar Creek Greeway at the axis of Lacaster, Meckleburg, ad York Couties. Potetial routes ito Chester Couty are curretly beig explored i depth. Carolia Piedmot Gree Iitiative America Forests iitiated a multi phase project i the Cetral Carolia regio to documet the values of gree ifrastructure, build capacity for the commuity to use the gree ifrastructure data for growth ad developmet decisio makig. The project documeted select areas of the regio's chagig ladscape with satellite imagery from the years of 1984 ad America Forests used high resolutio imagery to prepare a digital GIS-based map of the gree ifrastructure i select areas. Gree Ifrastructure icludes trees ad other vegetatio together with their complex iteractio with soil, air, ad water. Gree ifrastructure is a sigificat asset that was ot previously documeted as part of the regio s ifrastructure. America Forests used this data alog with their CITYgree GIS software to quatify ecosystem values. Whe complete, this data will provide local elected officials with tools to better gauge the beefits of the regio s gree ifrastructure for future plaig decisios. Iitial project parters icluded : The Catawba College Ceter for the Eviromet, the City of Charlotte, the City of Salisbury, Cetralia ad Catawba Regioal Coucils of Govermet, Meckleburg Couty, the Charlotte Tree Advisory Commissio, York Couty, ad the UNC Charlotte Urba Istitute. Coservatio ad Lad Trusts York Couty Forever Oe of the major plaig efforts udertake by York Couty to address ope space is the establishmet of the York Couty Forever Commissio i Some of the goals established for York Couty Forever iclude the promotio ad coservatio of atural resources, preservatio of prime farmlad, promotio of outdoor recreatio ad the preservatio of views ad ope space. These goals are closely related to the idetificatio ad preservatio of ope space. The Commissio has the authority to eter ito lad acquisitio egotiatios o behalf of York Couty, although the orgaizatio has o authority to ow lad or property easemets. The properties to be targeted for acquisitio must be related to oe or more various ope space, recreatioal, wildlife or historic categories, as outlied i the eablig ordiace. Palmetto Coservatio Foudatio PCF) Sice 1989, the PCF, its members ad supporters have brought a research-based, o-adversarial approach to coservatio, preservatio, ad recreatio issues i South Carolia. The missio of the Palmetto Coservatio Foudatio is to coserve South Carolia's atural ad cultural resources, preserve historic buildigs ad ladmarks, ad promote outdoor recreatio with trails ad greeways. Operatig as a statewide oprofit orgaizatio with offices i Columbia ad Spartaburg, PCF seeks to build widespread cosesus o the most appropriate ways for South Carolia's 5/15/2008 Page 12 of 47

20 commuities to grow ad prosper while maitaiig local character ad quality of life. PCF strives to form commuity cosesus o log-term, sustaiable developmet patters that ca provide lastig beefits for citizes while embracig the eed for growth. Natio Ford Lad Trust NFLT) NFLT is a private, o-profit orgaizatio dedicated to ehacig the quality of life i the York Couty by preservig the ope space, atural beauty, ad sceic heritage. The goals of the lad trust are to cotrol the use of lad by acquirig iterest i sigificat property, to educate the public to the ecessity, importace, beefits, ad impact of ope spaces, ad to operate exclusively for charitable ad educatioal purposes. Sice its foudig i 1989, Natio Ford has worked i a cooperative, o-adversarial maer to protect over 4,530 of the most uique acres i York Couty. By forgig true parterships with busiess, govermets, private ladowers ad other o-profit orgaizatios, Natio Ford Lad Trust has become recogized as oe of the southeaster Uited States leadig coservatio orgaizatios. Examples of NFLT coservatio efforts iclude the acquisitio ad protectio of buffers alog the Catawba River, protectio of Nay s Moutai, ad several areas of importace to the Revolutioary ad Civil Wars. Katawba Valley Lad Trust KVLT) KVLT is a private, o-profit orgaizatio. The Katawba Valley Lad Trust is cocered largely with the logest remaiig free-flowig sectio of the river i York, Chester ad Lacaster Couties. With the rapid growth of the Charlotte-Rock Hill urba area, this sectio of the river is comig uder icreasig pressure from developmet. The tributaries of the river are equally as critical, as they brig all the pollutats ad silt from developig areas ito the river. The Lad Trust works closely with the South Carolia Catawba River Task Force i seekig to preserve the beauty ad atural resources of the Catawba for future geeratios. Regioal ad Local Coordiatio Recommedatios The Rock Hill s ad Greeways Master Pla establishes a comprehesive ad achievable actio pla for commuity leaders to create ad maitai a safe, accessible, ad highly fuctioal trail ad greeway system that is fully itegrated with existig ad proposed regioal efforts. The Master Pla provides commuity leaders with both short- ad log-term recommedatios ad the framework to systematically expad the existig trails ad greeways etwork to promote coectivity. Coordiatio of efforts will allow the City to: Provide safe, healthy, ad ecoomical trasportatio optios for all ages, abilities, ad icomes as well as close-to-home recreatioal opportuities Cotribute to the regio s efforts to improve air quality, ad Costitute a critical elemet of overall efforts to improve the commuity s quality of life. To achieve this, the City of Rock Hill should: Maximize coordiatio amog agecies, commuities, ad trail groups. Assist agecies, commuities, ad trail groups with trail plaig efforts. 5/15/2008 Page 13 of 47

21 Idetify additioal sources of fudig ad develop grat applicatios ad other ecessary iformatio to compete for ew fuds. Cotiue idetificatio of ew trail projects ad opportuities as they emerge. Support local commuities efforts to preserve ad/or create trails through local lad use, plaig, ad zoig strategies. Esure that trail projects that are uder developmet progress i a timely fashio ad with adequate fudig to complete project as desiged. Support the idetificatio ad developmet of ew ad/or improved trail coectios to adjacet lad uses. 5/15/2008 Page 14 of 47

22 II. Existig Facilities There has bee progress i trail costructio sice the adoptio of the origial s & Greeways Master Pla i As of the completio of this Master Pla update, several trail segmets are uderway icludig St. Ae s, South Poite Phase I completed i Jauary 2008), ad Rawliso Road trails, totalig two 2) miles. There are several existig facilities, icludig trails, sidewalks, ad a caoe trail, some of which serve as sigificat portios of the trail etwork. These facilities have bee costructed by the City, eighborhood groups, ad private iterests. A listig of these facilities follows. The existig trails ad sidewalks that comprise the trails ad greeways system are idetified o the Rock Hill Area s System Map i Appedix A ad the Rock Hill Area s Ivetory List i Appedix B. A. s The City s 18 existig trails total miles i legth ad are dispersed throughout the City. Aother 2.1 miles are curretly uder costructio see proposed facilities). A summary of iformatio for each trail is show below. Airport Loop: Armory Park : Cherry Park : Cofederate Park : Eagle : Emmett Scott Park : Fewell Park : Friedheim Park : Hood Ceter : 4.2 miles, alog Bryat Blvd., Hwy 160, ad Airport Rd 0.25 miles, withi Armory Park located o South Cofederate Aveue 1.5 miles, withi Cherry Park, aroud the perimeter. Hadicapped accessible 0.25 miles, withi Cofederate Park, located o North Cofederate Aveue 2.4 miles, alog Ede Terrace from Myrtle Drive to Caswell Street at Sulliva Middle School, icludig loop aroud Withrop Coliseum. Hadicapped accessible miles, Behid the Emmett Scott Recreatio Ceter, located o Crawford Road 0.7 miles, withi Fewell Park, located o Alexader Road 0.25 miles, withi Friedheim Park, located o Friedheim Road 0.8 miles, from Machester Meadows to Tech Park Machester Meadows Park : 1.5 miles, withi Machester Meadows Park, located o Joh Ross Parkway Morga : 0.6 miles, withi Hargett Park, located o Deas Street 5/15/2008 Page 15 of 47

23 Northside : River Park : South Poite Phase I): Southlad Park : St. Ae s Phase I): Tech Park Phase I): Waterford : 0.6 miles, alog Dave Lyle Boulevard from Tech Park to Northside Recreatio Ceter 3.5 miles, withi River Park, located o the baks of the Catawba River. Approximately 0.5 miles hadicapped accessible. 1.6 miles, alog Neely ad Rawlsville Roads from Crawford Rd to Saluda Rd 0.25 miles, withi Southlad Park. There is a coectig trail that leads to the trails withi the Blackjack Heritage Preserve i the Couty 0.41 miles, ruig parallel to Poe Street, betwee Bird Street ad Church Street 0.9 miles, withi Tech Park, coectig to Northside 1.2 miles, alog the Catawba River from River Park to Overview Drive ad Waterford Golf Course to Sprigfield withi River Park B. Sidewalks Over the last five years, the City has promoted the costructio of a etwork of sidewalks throughout the jurisdictio; for the purposes of this s ad Greeways Master Pla Update, sidewalks at key locatios are beig idetified as itegral compoets of the trails system. Eight existig sidewalks, totalig 22.2 miles, are cosidered essetial to maitaiig coectivity throughout the trail system. These facilities are listed below: Aderso Road Sidewalk: 1.8 miles, alog Aderso Road from US-21 to Albright Cherry Road Sidewalk Cetral): 5.5 miles, alog Cherry Road to York Aveue Heckle Boulevard Sidewalk: Herlog Idia Hook Sidewalk: Mai Street Sidewalk West): Natios Ford Sidewalk: 1.6 miles, alog Highway 901Heckle Blvd) from Ogde Rd to Albright Road 2.0 miles, alog Herlog Rd ad Idia Hook Rd, from Costitutio Blvd to Celaese Rd 8.3 miles, alog Highway 5 Mai St) from Southside Road to Tools Fork Creek 0.1 miles, alog Natios Ford Road from Ede Terrace to Greebriar Aveue 5/15/2008 Page 16 of 47

24 Oaklad Aveue Sidewalk: Saluda Street Sidewalk North): 1.4 miles, alog Oaklad Aveue from Cherry Road to Highway 5 Mai St) 1.5 miles, alog Saluda Street from Highway 5 Mai St) to Highway 901 Heckle Blvd) C. Other s Caoe With the completio of River Park, a caoe trail has bee established alog the Catawba River. The trail begis at the Lake Wylie Dam access poit off of Sutto Road, cotiues approximately six miles to the River Park caoe access, ad the cotiues 16 miles to Lasford Caal State Park. Saluda Bike Route The Saluda Bike is essetially a 3.6 mile bike route which wids through the eighborhoods) immediately surroudig Saluda Street ad the Saluda Corridor, Southwest of dowtow ad withi the City limits. The bike trail is distiguished by sigage alog the route. The bike route begis at the itersectio of Johsto ad Hampto streets, wids through the residetial areas west of Saluda, ad itersects Saluda Street at Blake Street. The route picks up agai at the itersectio of Saluda Street ad Midvale Street, loops back through the residetial areas east of Saluda, ad termiates at Elizabeth ad Black streets. 5/15/2008 Page 17 of 47

25 III. Proposed Facilities This Master Pla update focuses o both plaed ad proposed facilities. The facilities ca be grouped ito the five categories: multi-purpose trails, greeway trails, park trails, sidewalks as trails, ad bikeways. Each facility type is defied i this sectio ad public acceptace policies are outlied at the ed of this sectio. Desig guidelies for the various facility types are discussed i Sectio IV. Six criteria were used i establishig ew trail recommedatios: Coectivity fillig i missig liks to the existig trail system ad extedig the system to Couty ad regioal iitiatives; Opportuities to create a Outer Loop greeway; Utilizig udevelopable lad; Usig existig city easemet or rights-of-way; Implemetatio of the East Corridor Growth Strategy; ad Icorporatig sidewalks as proposed trails at key locatios. Approximately miles of greeway trails, miles of multi-purpose trails ad miles of sidewalk are proposed by this pla. The proposed trails ad sidewalks that comprise the trails ad greeways system are idetified o the Rock Hill Area s ad Greeways System Map i Appedix A ad the Rock Hill Area s ad Greeways System Ivetory List i Appedix B. The Ivetory List provides a descriptio of each proposed trail, greeway or sidewalk ad its locatio. A. Proposed Facilities Multi-Purpose s Multi-purpose trails coect major destiatios ad serve as the backboe of the trail ad greeway system. These facilities are expected to be the most heavily used trails i the system ad will be built to accommodate the widest possible rage of users. These trails will attract users from across the regio, makig Rock Hill a destiatio for trail ethusiasts. A summary of the proposed 15 multi-purpose trails follows: 1. Albright : 2.1 miles, alog Aderso Road from York Tech to Hwy 5 Mai Street) 2. Arcade : 0.6 miles, alog the creek ad existig easemet from proposed Wildcat Creek through Arcade Mill Redevelopmet site to Hwy 5 Mai Street) 3. Blackjacks : 0.2 miles, alog Blackmo St from Albright Rd to the Blackjacks Heritage Preserve 4. Ebeezer Rail : 5.1 miles, alog railroad tracks from Dowtow to Rawliso Road/Newport 5/15/2008 Page 18 of 47

26 5. Ede Terrace : 2.8 miles, alog Ede Terrace from Natios Ford Road to proposed Riverwalk developmet trail system, termiatig at Cherry Rd US 21) 6. Hear Street : 0.31 alog Hear Street to lik Hargett Park to Cherry Park 7. Heckle : 4.8 miles, alog Hwy 901 Heckle) from Ogde Rd. to Rawliso Road 8. Jack White : 1.5 miles, alog Dave Lyle Blvd from Cofederate Park to Northside Park 9. Natios Ford : 3.6 miles, alog powerlie right-of-way from Cherry Park to Machester Meadows Park to Eagle 10. Northside Extesio: 0.7 miles, extesio of Northside to coect to Jack White 11. Rawliso Road : 2.1 miles, alog Rawliso Rd from Hwy 161 Celaese Rd) to proposed Couty Greeway alog Tools Fork Creek 12. South Poite Phase II): 2.6 miles, alog Robertso Road from Fishig Creek to Oakdale ad alog Neely Road from Robertso Road to Ogde Road 13. Sprigdale : 3.5 miles, alog Sprigdale Road from Waterford to proposed Taylor Creek Tributary at Lesslie Road 14. St. Ae s Phase II): 1.23 miles, alog Uiversity Drive begiig at Ede Terrace ad across St. Ae's property to Church Street 15. Tech Park Phase 2): 0.5 miles, behid York Tech likig Hood Ceter to Tech Park Greeway s Outer Loop) Greeway trails coect major destiatios to parks, ope spaces, ad other atural ameities. Not oly will greeway trails serve as a recreatioal resource, they will also be desiged to ehace the city s evirometal ad ecoomic resources as well as fuctioig as a educatioal resource to promote water quality, atural resource coservatio ad the preservatio of wildlife habitat. The Catawba River is evisioed to serve as the spie of the greeway system ad form a portio of a outer loop greeway surroudig the city. Greeway trails will follow alogside the various creeks coectig the outer loop greeway to the proposed Carolia Thread ad multi-purpose trails ad other destiatios withi the city limits. A summary of the proposed te greeway trails follows: 5/15/2008 Page 19 of 47

27 1. Catawba Riverfrot : 1.5 miles, alog the Catawba River from proposed park ear Lake Wylie Dam to proposed Riverwalk developmet trail 2. Dutchma Creek : 3.18 miles, alog Big Dutchma Creek from the Catawba River to Idia Hook Road 3. Galleria Greeway: 1.65 miles, alog Machester Creek from River Park to Machester Meadows Park 4. Idia Hook : 0.6 miles, alog Idia Hook Rd from proposed Catawba Bridge Sidewalk to proposed Catawba Riverfrot 5. River Walk Developmet : 3 miles, alog the Catawba River from ear the US- 21 Bridge to River Park 6. Stoey Brach Creek : 1.6 miles, alog Stoey Brach Creek from Clito Juior College/Carroll Park to South Poite. Coects proposed Couty Greeway outer loop) to Dowtow area. Utilizes existig sewer easemet alog creek. 7. Taylors Creek Tributary : 2.2 miles, alog Blackmo Street from Workma Street Park ad Taylors Creek Tributary to proposed Couty Greeway. Supports the East- Corridor Growth Strategy ad coects to Couty Greeway outer loop). Utilizes existig sewer easemet alog tributary. 8. Taylors Creek/Burgis Creek : 9.02 miles, alog Taylors Creek from proposed Couty Greeway across Catawba Baptist Church property ad alog Burgis Creek to the Catawba River ad alog the Catawba River to Waterford. Supports the East-Corridor Growth Strategy ad provides segmet of "outer loop" greeway. 9. Taylor's : 2.1 miles, alog Taylor's Creek ad sewer lie ROW from Southlad Park to Taylor Oaks subdivisio 10. Wildcat Creek Greeway: 1.7 miles, alog Wildcat Creek through Taglewood PUD, City Arcade Park, ad Memorial Gardes to Textile Corridor tied i to Arcade. Coects proposed Couty Greeway outer loop) to Textile Corridor 5/15/2008 Page 20 of 47

28 Park s There are curretly o proposed trails to be located withi parks; however, ay future parks should be plaed to iclude park trails ad coect to the trail system. Sidewalks as s May of the mai roads that carry vehicle traffic through the City eed to be retrofitted with sidewalks to provide a opportuity for people to walk safely to their destiatios if they so choose. Where they do ot exist, sidewalks should be istalled to coect existig shoppig ceters with the surroudig residetial areas. Sidewalks should be istalled o all ew streets ad whe property is developed adjacet to a road without sidewalks, the developer should be required to istall sidewalks alog the property frotage. Whe determiig ew sidewalk locatios, areas withi ½ mile of schools should be give priority. Bus service is ot provided to childre that live withi 1½ mile of their school. Providig sidewalks i these areas will provide safe routes for childre to walk to school ad reduce vehicular traffic associated with studet drop-offs. May of the existig sidewalks ad trails preset barriers to hadicapped persos. There are also some basic safety cosideratios that were ot take ito accout whe the sidewalks were built. The followig accessibility ad safety improvemets are recommeded: Crosswalks- All ew sidewalks ad trails should have marked crosswalks at all street crossigs. Existig crosswalks must be well maitaied. Curb ramps- Curb ramps are a must to provide wheelchair access to the sidewalk ad trail system. Wherever crosswalks are provided, wheelchair ramps should be provided as well. There are may sidewalks i the City that do ot have curb ramps. These barriers eed to be ivetoried ad a pla developed to retrofit them with ramps. Sigalizatio- Pedestria sigalizatio eeds to be icorporated i all ew sigalized itersectios. Pedestria sigals should also be added to existig sigalized itersectios that do ot have them whe the sigals are upgraded. Sigals o multi-lae roads must be set to provide adequate time for pedestrias to cross all laes of traffic. Platig strips- Sidewalks that are adjacet to the back of the curb should be avoided. A platig strip of at least three feet should be provided betwee the back of the curb ad the sidewalk. Provisio of platig strips creates a buffer betwee the sidewalk users ad vehicular traffic ad avoids problems such as placig mailboxes withi the path of the sidewalk. Plats that block sight lies at itersectios ad driveways must ot be allowed withi the platig strips. A summary of the 15 proposed sidewalks to be icluded i the trail etwork follows: 1. Adah Church Road Sidewalk: 0.8 miles, alog Adah Church Road from Tools Fork Creek to York Road i cojuctio with plaed realigmet. 5/15/2008 Page 21 of 47

29 2. Albright Road Sidewalk: 1.8 miles, alog Albright Road from Black Street to Hwy 901 Heckle Blvd) 3. Catawba Bridge Sidewalk North): 1.25 miles, alog future 3rd Catawba River Bridge Crossig Mt Gallat extesio) 4. Cherry Road Sidewalk North): 0.9 miles, alog Cherry Road from Cel River Road across ew US-21 bridge 5. Cherry Road Sidewalk South): 0.5 miles, alog Cherry Road from York Aveue to Hwy 901 Heckle Blvd) 6. Dave Lyle Blvd Sidewalk 0.7 miles, alog Dave Lyle Blvd from future Paddock Pkwy to Red River Rd 7. Mai Street Sidewalk East): 0.3 miles, alog Hwy 5 Mai St) from Southside Road to Sprigdale Road. 8. Mt. Gallat Road Sidewalk: 5.6 miles, alog Mt. Gallat Road from Dave Lyle Blvd to Twi Lakes Blvd 9. Mt. Gallat Sidewalk West): 2 miles, alog Mt. Gallat from Twi Lakes to Mt. Gallat Middle School ad alog Boatshore Road from Mt. Gallat to Ebeezer Park 10. Oakdale Neighborhood Sidewalk 1.1 miles, from Saluda St Sidewalk South) alog Harper Gault Rd ad Stephaie L, coectig to proposed Taylor s 11. Ogde Road Sidewalk: 1 mile, alog Ogde Road from South Poite to Hwy 901 Heckle Blvd) 12. Paddock Parkway Sidewalk: 2 miles, alog proposed ew road facility parallel) I-77 from S. Aderso Road to Dave Lyle Blvd 13. Saluda Gateway Sidewalk 0.4 miles, alog Saluda St from Heckle Blvd to Albright Rd 14. Saluda Street Sidewalk South): 2.0 miles, alog Saluda Street from Hwy 901 to Rambo Road 15. Wal-Mart Sidewalk: 0.5 miles, alog Old York Road from Aspedale Rd to Hwy 901 Heckle Blvd). Bikeways Bike laes - Some of the primary multi-purpose corridors show o the pla map will iclude bike laes. Bike laes are appropriate i suburba areas where there are loger distaces betwee destiatios ad sidewalks are ot practical. Several of the road improvemet projects 5/15/2008 Page 22 of 47

30 proposed through the York Couty Oe Cet Sales Tax program pla to icorporate bike laes, however fudig issues have arise which may jeopardize the iclusio of these bike facilities. The eed for bike facilities will be cosidered with the upcomig Rock Hill-Fort Mill Area Trasportatio Study RFATS) Log Rage Trasportatio Pla as well as the 2010 Trasportatio Elemet of the City s Comprehesive Pla. Bike Lae sigage should be istalled alog roadway facilities with clearly marked bike laes. Wider outside laes - Wider outside laes should be provided o multi-lae streets that do ot have ay other type of bike or pedestria facilities. The iside laes of these roads ca be striped so that they are arrower tha the outside laes providig more room alog the curb for cyclists ad pedestrias. This could be accomplished o some streets simply by re-stripig them. The ability for roads to accommodate wider outside laes should be evaluated before ay resurfacig or re-stripig project is udertake. Sigage should be istalled idicatig that the roadway is a Share the Road facility. Paved shoulders - O streets with o other bike facilities, a paved shoulder should be provided as a miimal accommodatio for cyclists. Paved shoulders provide the added beefit of a safety zoe for motorists who would otherwise ru off the edge of the pavemet ad possibly lose cotrol if the paved shoulder were ot preset. Paved shoulders should be icluded i the resurfacig of all roads that do ot have other bike facilities. Other Types Other types of trails that may be a part of the system i the future iclude moutai bike trails, hikig trails, equestria trails, caoe trails, all-terrai vehicle trails, ad motorcycle trails. These trail types must be clearly labeled for their iteded use o maps ad i the field to avoid safety problems associated with coflictig user types. These trail types are ot show o the pla map because they will be developed as opportuities arise ad their locatio is ot kow at this time. B. Support Facilities Bike Racks Bicycle owers must have a coveiet place to park ad secure their bikes. Bike racks should be provided at all shoppig ceters, parks, govermet facilities, ad other destiatio poits. Bike Lockers Bike lockers are typically provided at locatios where bicycles are left for exteded periods of time, such as mass trasit stops. Locatios for future bike lockers should be idetified as a trasit system is developed. Shelters Shelters should be provided alog the trail corridors to give the users a spot to stop ad rest or seek shelter from iclemet weather. Shelters ca also serve as patrol statios for law eforcemet or voluteer trail marshals. Shelters may iclude restrooms, water foutais, bulleti boards, ad beches. 5/15/2008 Page 23 of 47

31 Emergecy Call Boxes I remote areas, emergecy call boxes should be istalled to help esure safety of the trail users. Call boxes help deter crimial activity ad provide a lik to emergecy services i case of ijury. Sigage All trails should be siged i accordace with resposible trail buildig practices. Sigs should iclude iformatio such as hours that the trail is ope for use, type of users that are prohibited i.e. o motorized vehicles), ad directioal sigs at trail itersectios. head There may be a eed for trailheads for some trails to provide access at remote locatios. heads will iclude a parkig area ad other facilities such as bulleti boards, trash receptacles, ad restrooms. Bollards should be istalled to prevet uauthorized vehicle access to the trail. C. Public Acceptace Policies s, sidewalks, bike laes, ad other facilities may be eligible for public acceptace, but oly if they are built to the City s stadards. Developers or others who wish to costruct a trail ad the tur it over to the City for maiteace must work closely with City staff durig the developmet of the trail to esure that it will be eligible for acceptace by the City. Costructig a trail to City stadards does ot guaratee public acceptace for maiteace by the City. The City of Rock Hill reserves the right to accept or declie part, or all, of a trail as is deemed appropriate. 5/15/2008 Page 24 of 47

32 IV. Desig & Maiteace Desig ad maiteace stadards must be established i order to create a viable trail ad greeway system. These stadards will esure that the trails are built properly ad that they are kept i good coditio. The followig desig guidelies for Rock Hill trails will serve to meet the eeds of all users i varyig coditios. The stadards describe how to accommodate pedestrias ad bicyclists alog with other users, i most eviromets, but caot address all possible situatios. It does provide, however, a foudatio upo which each segmet ca be developed to icorporate specific idividual eeds ad coditios. The guidelies represet a effort to provide soud desig priciples i order to attai a cosistet, safe ad ejoyable Rock Hill trail experiece. A. Categories As depicted i Table 4.1, the s & Greeways Master Pla establishes four primary categories of trails that will be used to develop the overall system ad is plaed as a multi-use system of trails, for walkers, bikers ad the disabled park trail, greeway trail, multi-purpose trail, ad sidewalk. There will be, however, segmets that will be iaccessible to the biker or the disabled due to ualterable site coditios, such as the steep wooded trails at River Park. While this type of trail segmet is the exceptio, there will be other areas with costraits that could limit the usage because of coditios such as steep grades or limited space for a wide eough trail to accommodate differet users. Sigage ad maps will desigate where the trail is specifically limited to pedestrias ad where there are other special coditios for use. Table 4.1: Categories Category Users Cotext Park Pedestria / Bicycle oly Iteral to idividual parks Greeway Pedestria / Bicycle oly Withi atural areas; adjacet to water features Multi-Purpose Pedestria / Bicycle oly Varies based o sitig Sidewalk Pedestria oly Icorporated withi the street etwork B. Desig Guidelies The City has established costructio stadards for sidewalks ad trails that are provided i lieu of sidewalks. These stadards are icluded i Article 7 of the City s Zoig Ordiace. Table 4.2 of this documet details the recommeded desig guidelies for the four primary categories of trails. 5/15/2008 Page 25 of 47

33 Table 4.2: s ad Greeways System Desig Guidelies STANDA BY TRAIL TYPE TRAIL FEATURE Park Greeway Multi-Purpose Sidewalk Width Desirable 12' 12' 12' 6' Miimum 10' 10' 10' 5' Shoulder Desirable 4' 4' 4' 4' Width Miimum 2' 2' 2' 2' Surface Desirable Permeable Permeable Permeable Cocrete Type Acceptable Asphalt Mulch Cocrete --- Subsurface Acceptable *ABC *ABC *ABC *ABC Type* Subsurface Desirable 6" 6" 6" 6" Depth Acceptable 4" 4" --- 4" Desirable 1% - 3% 1% - 3% 1% - 3% 1% - 2% Grade Maximum 5% 5% 5% 5% Desirable 1% 1% 1% 1% Surface Grade Maximum 2% 2% 2% 2% Vertical Desirable 10' 10' 10' 10' Clearace Miimum 8' 8' 8' 8' Horizotal Desirable 4' 4' 4' 4' Clearace Miimum 2' 2' 2' 2' Viewshed Desirable 100' 200' 200' 200' liear feet) Miimum 75' 150' 150' 150' Sigage To be determied by the City of Rock Hill. Notes Miimum surface depth is 4 for all trail types. * ABC is Aggregate Base Course, or crushed stoe. 5/15/2008 Page 26 of 47

34 Sectio Details The followig graphic rederig illustrates the geeral desig guidelies for a typical multi-use trail cross-sectio: Figure 4.1: Typical Multi-Use Cross-Sectio Greeway trails should be give additioal cosideratio i their desig ad costructio. Most greeways cotai trails, which ehace existig recreatioal opportuities, provide routes for alterative trasportatio, ad improve the overall quality of life i a area. Greeway trails ca be paved or upaved, ad ca be desiged to accommodate a variety of trail users, icludig bicyclists, walkers, hikers, joggers, skaters, horseback riders, ad those cofied to wheelchairs. Greeway trails should be located o less tha 25 ft from a stream, uless costructed withi a existig or proposed utility easemet. Greeway trails withi the Streamside as permitted) or Maaged Use Zoes should be costructed with permeable surfaces ad the use of petroleumbased materials withi the Streamside Zoe is strogly discouraged. The followig graphic illustrates the typical greeway trail cross-sectio: 5/15/2008 Page 27 of 47

35 Figure 4.2: Typical Greeway Cross-Sectio Vegetative clearig eeded for greeway trails varies depedig o the width of the trail. The miimum width for clearig ad grubbig should exted at least 1ft o each side of the trail. Selective thiig icreases sight lies ad distaces ad ehaces the safety of the trail user. This practice icludes removal of uderbrush ad limbs to create ope pockets withi a forest caopy, but does ot iclude the removal of the forest caopy itself. The followig graphic depicts that typical greeway trail vegetatio clearig cross-sectio: Figure 4.3: Typical Greeway Vegetatio Clearig Guidelies 5/15/2008 Page 28 of 47