A map last year provided the general outline of the Caldwell Station Greenway, with several route options. After months of work, consultants May 23 will present a proposed trail alignment. Click for the full map.

Consultants will present the proposed alignment for the Caldwell Station Creek Greenway at a public workshop Thursday, May 23. The $2 million, 2-mile greenway will link Bailey Road Park on NC 115 with US 21 near the Home Depot.

The meeting runs 6:30 to 8pm at Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave.

The project is the first since the town adopted a Pedestrian Master Plan last year, which envisions a variety of pedestrian and cycling paths in town. Troy Fitzsimmons, director of Cornelius Parks, Arts, Recreation & Culture (PARC), has said it could be the first in an eventual “emerald necklace” of paths around town.

The US 21 to NC 115 trail likely would be about 10 feet wide, with an additional 5 feet of buffer on either side, consultants said. The town would acquire easements from property owners, which would give it permission to run the trail through their land. The trail would be about 2 miles long, though that could vary depending on the route chosen.

The path would connect on the east with a multi-use path that extends along Bailey Road to Hough High School. From there, it would be just a short ways from the Southeast Greenway in Davidson, which eventually will connect back to downtown Cornelius.

At a February workshop, consultant Tedd Duncan (right) talks to residents in front of a map showing the US 21 to NC 115 area. (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)

The town has hired Stantec Consulting Services Inc. under $59,115 contract to help plan the route. At the first workshop in February, some residents expressed concerns about how the trail would affect property owners, whether joggers and cyclists would leave behind trash, and whether the terrain was suitable for a trail.

Stantec’s Tedd Duncan said then that the final alignment of the trail would depend on residents’ desires, costs and the ease of construction. “Our goal is to make people happy that the trail is happening,” Mr. Duncan said in February.

The May 23 meeting will unveil Stantec’s proposed route, along with cost estimates. The town board still would have to give the go ahead for the project, and approve the route.

For additional information, contact John DeKemper, Cornelius PARC’s Assistant Director, at jdekemper@cornelius.org or 704-892-6031 x64.

RELATED COVERAGE: “Caldwell greenway could be first ‘emerald necklace’ link” – coverage of a February workshop on the project.

Pre-registration is not required, and children are invited to bring snacks or lunches. More information: Cornelius.org/parc. See a list of programs below.

Drop-In Art
Monday – Friday, April 1-5
10:00am – 2:00pm Cornelius Arts Center

Ages 2-12 will be able to express their creativity while making spring-themed art projects. Children 3 years of age and under must be accompanied by an adult.
$6 per child for the first hour & $4 per child for the second hour.

Open Gym
Monday – Thursday, April 1-4
9:00am – 12:00pm Bailey Road Recreation Center

Free Open Gym will be offered for ages 8-18. Enjoy recreational activities such as basketball, table tennis, Wii games, 4-square and more!

PARC Day
Friday, April 5
12:00pm – 2:00pm Smithville Park

Bring the whole family to this free event, co-sponsored by the Cornelius Police Department. Participants will enjoy arts & crafts, bicycle rodeo, kite flying contests, Coca Cola Discovery Vehicle, food and more!

Morning with the Easter Bunny, Friday, March 22, 9-11am, Cornelius Arts Center, 19725 Oak St., Oak Street Mill, Cornelius – Cornelius PARC presents a morning with the Easter Bunny, for preschoolers. With seasonal crafts, refreshments and a visit from Peter Cottontail. Free. Don’t forget to bring a camera. Info: http://cornelius.org/parc

Hop into Spring, Saturday, March 23, 2-4pm, Bailey Road Park, off N.C. 115, Cornelius – Cornelius Parks Arts Recreation and Culture presents the annual “Hop into Spring” festival with family fun, including arts & crafts, inflatable obstacle course, balloon artist, face painting, DJ and a visit from Peter Cottontail. Bring a basket to collect toy-filled eggs at the different activity stations. Info: Call Mindi Stoner, 704-892-6031, or visit Cornelius.org

Scenes from the ‘Tawba Walk Friday night in downtown Cornelius. See a gallery below. (Chuck McShane/CorneliusNews.net)

‘Tawba Walk flier.

By CHUCK McSHANE
CorneliusNews.net

The sound of live music and the smell of popcorn filled the air at the Oak Street Mill Friday night in Cornelius as the third annual ‘Tawba Walk kicked off spring downtown. The art crawl drew  a big crowd on a sunny and cool evening.

Artist, crafts sellers, and food vendors from Cornelius and surrounding towns set up in the parking lot and inside the converted mill. The action spread up the hill to Catawba Avenue, where local shops stayed open late, while local artists and musicians painted and performed on the sidewalk.

The event was presented by Bella Love Studios and Cornelius PARC, with sponsorship from Cooke Rentals, Corneliusnews.net, Kadi Fit, Mama’s Pizza Express, Memoories Pawn Show, the Olive Branch, and Promo Spread.

The festival was the latest in a series of events aimed at promoting downtown Conrelius as an arts district.

Entertainment included music by The Goodnight Brothers and Güder and Arsena Schroeder as well as a live graffiti wall. Artists sold everything from jewelry and accessories to paintings, hand-crafted items and home décor.

See our coverage of previous ‘Tawba Walks on CorneliusNews.net.

TAWBA WALK GALLERY

Rain fell on a baseball field at Westmoreland Athletic Complex last week. (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)

Sen. Jeff Tarte

The Cornelius Parks, Arts, Recreation, and Culture Committee will hold a public hearing at its meeting Thursday, March 7, on a proposal to name a field at the Westmoreland Athletic Complex after former mayor Jeff Tarte.

The Town Board announced the plan in January after Mayor Tarte stepped down to take the oath as the area’s new state senator. The meeting is Thursday, March 7, at 5:30pm, in Room 217 at Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave.

The plan calls for naming Field 1 at Westmoreland after the former mayor.   The $3.2 million park opened off Westmoreland Road last July, when then-Mayor Tarte threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

More information at Cornelius.org

PLANNING BOARD MEETS MONDAY

The Cornelius Planning Board meets Monday, March 11, at 6:30pm in the Assembly Room at Town Hall.

Meeting details at Cornelius.org