Piedmont Greenway
19 MILES, 3 TOWNS, 2 CITIES, 1 PIEDMONT GREENWAY
ABOUT
People have been dreaming about the Piedmont Greenway for nearly two decades and for a lot of good reasons.
The Piedmont Greenway is planned to be a 19-mile shared-use path that would extend from Salem Lake in Winston-Salem to Summerfield in Guilford County, with existing connections to downtown Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point. It will be the backbone of active alternative transportation network in the Triad by linking together popular trails and greenways and dozens of community destinations. There is an overall master plan for the corridor and updated Feasibility Studies have been completed for certain sections.
- 2 Cities: Greensboro & Winston-Salem
- 3 Towns: Kernersville, Oak Ridge, & Summerfield
- 5 Major Trail Connections: The Mountains-to-Sea Trail, the Bicentennial Greenway, the A&Y Greenway, Greensboro’s Watershed Trails, & Salem Lake Trail
- Parks and Playgrounds
- Schools
- Residential Communities
- Commercial Centers
Frequently Asked Questions
The Piedmont Greenway is a planned 19 mile shared use path that will connect Greensboro to Winston-Salem through Triad Park and the towns of Summerfield, Oak Ridge and Kernersville. Approximately 11 miles will be in Guilford County and the remaining approximately 8 miles will be in Forsyth County.
The Piedmont Greenway will mostly follow the Reedy Fork Creek corridor in Guilford County and west of downtown Kernersville, the greenway will follow the Kerners Mill Creek Greenway to link up to Winston-Salem’s Salem Lake Trail.
The Piedmont Greenway will eventually be a paved, shared use path. In early implementation stages however, the trail will start out as a natural surface trail in some areas until funding can be identified to construct a paved path.
The Piedmont Greenway is a multi-jurisdictional project facilitated by Piedmont Land Conservancy and involving all local municipalities including Guilford County, Forsyth County, Greensboro, Summerfield, Oak Ridge, Kernersville, and Winston-Salem.
Not yet, but a 1.25 mile section in Forsyth County from the Salem Lake Trail on Linville Road to Hastings Mill Road is scheduled to be constructed in the near future. In Guilford County, a 2.5 mile section will be opened as a natural surface trail in 2022-2023.
Planning for the Piedmont Greenway includes consideration of access points so the distance between access points does not exceed 2-3 miles.
The Piedmont Greenway will connect to a number of local trail networks, including the Winston-Salem greenway system, Triad Park Trails, the A&Y Greenway in Summerfield and Greensboro, Greensboro’s Watershed Trails and the Bicentennial Greenway. The Piedmont Greenway will also be designated as a section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.
Managing the Piedmont Greenway will be a multi-jurisdictional effort with all municipalities involved. Formal agreements and MOUs will be developed in the future.
WHY IT MATTERS
HEALTH
Trails and greenways promote active lifestyles, and moderate exercise can lead to better physical and mental health outcomes. The Piedmont Greenway will improve health and wellness by increasing access to active living opportunities.¹
Economy
Every $1.00 of greenway trail construction supports $1.72 annually from local business revenue, sales tax revenue, and benefits related to health and transportation.²
SAFETY
According to the 2011 Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Survey, at least 70 percent of North Carolinians would walk or bike more for daily trips if walking and bicycling conditions were improved.³
Community
A well-connected trail provides opportunities for people throughout the area to have positive interaction (such as through exercising, strolling, or even just saying “hello”) to build trust and awareness of others, which strengthens the overall sense of community.
property value
Properties in close proximity to trails and greenways are often higher valued. In the Shepard’s Vineyard residential development in Apex, North Carolina, homes along the regional greenway were priced $5,000 higher than other residences in the development – and these homes were still the first to sell.⁴
Environment
Greenways serve as buffers in developed areas that protect and link fragmented habitats and provide opportunities for protecting native plant and animal species. Greenways can serve as hands-on environmental classrooms for people of all ages to experience natural landscapes.
1.“America’s Health Rankings Annual Report.” (2016). United Health Foundation and the American Public Health Association. 2. “Evaluating the Economic Contribution of Shared Use Paths in NC” (2018). Institute for Transportation Research and Education. 3. Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE)at North Carolina State University. (2011). Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Survey. 4. Rails to Trails Conservancy. (2005). Economic benefits of trails and greenways.
Project Partners
The future of the Piedmont Greenway has been built by people coming together. With the support and cooperation of all these partners, the Piedmont Greenway has the potential to make a positive impact for many communities.
STATUS
Building a regional greenway takes time; however, many steps have been made. To help the Piedmont Greenway to keep moving forward, we ask that you share you feedback in the Get Involved section below.
GET INVOLVED
What the Piedmont Greenway needs most is your support! Take the survey below and share your thoughts on this project.
More to share? Let us know in the form below. Thank you!
