New 3-mile stretch of Little Sugar Creek Greenway now open

Driving the news: A new stretch of the greenway spanning nearly three miles from Pineville to the South Carolina state line is officially open.

Why it matters: The project gives residents lots of space to explore the outdoors. It also provides an alternate means of travel for cyclists and runners looking to avoid congested streets.

Details: The new section runs from the President James K. Polk State Historic Site (12031 Lancaster Hwy in Pineville) to Gilroy Drive in Lancaster County, S.C.

• The stretch of greenway connects to the Cross Charlotte Trail, also known as XCLT, which will eventually extend to the northern part of Mecklenburg County.
• The $8 million project includes 2.5 miles of stream restoration, two pedestrian bridge crossings, five neighborhood connections, three boardwalk systems and two smaller bridge crossings.

Public access points with parking include the Polk site and Pineville Lake Park/Belle Johnston Center 330 Lake Dr. and 12021 Lancaster Hwy. There are a few parking spots at the Gilroy Drive trailhead in South Carolina.

Of note: You can park just north of the new segment at 9800 Leitner Dr. in Pineville.

Bonus: The new section is far from entirely flat. If you’re looking for a decent incline, you’ll find a few spots as you get closer to South Carolina.

• If a section of greenway is along the road, the city maintains it.The county is responsible for the upkeep of sections along creeks.

What’s next: Expect to see more greenways throughout the region.

• The county and the city currently have 67 miles of greenway, another 11 miles under construction and 13 miles in design, Katie Lloyd, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation senior planner, tells Axios.
• The county has at least seven greenway projects creating 15 miles of new greenway that should start construction within the next year.
• You can provide input on capital projects here and on the Park and Recreation public input dashboard here.

Go deeper: How to bike from Elizabeth to Pineville on Charlotte’s greenways

Note: We first published this story in March 2023. We updated it June 1, 2023.