Cape Fear River Trail and the River Oaks PreserveEach day, more than 300 people bike and walk the
City of Fayetteville’s new 4.2-mile Cape Fear River Trail, which was funded in part by a $250,000 grant from the
Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and a $1.2 million grant from the Federal Transportation Enhancement funds. Now, a $289,000 grant from the
Clean Water Management Trust Fund will be combined with local and federal funds to extend the popular trail another 3.8 miles, at the same time protecting the area’s drinking water.
When complete, the trail will run along the Cape Fear River from Methodist College to the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens, past several special places that highlight the surprising beauty of the river in this area.
North of this trail, the
Sandhills Area Land Trust is establishing a new flagship nature preserve that boasts steep ravines, high bluffs, majestic hardwoods, and a flowing waterfall. While this topography is not what usually comes to mind when one thinks of the gentle landscape of North Carolina’s Sandhills, the 137-acre preserve known as River Oaks has all these stunning features. Clean Water Management Trust Fund grants totaling $983,000 helped make the purchase possible, and through the educational outreach programs of the Sandhills Area Land Trust, the public will have the opportunity to visit this amazing place in the future.
The preserve and the greenway trail are two strategies that Fayetteville is using to protect its drinking water, air, and wildlife, and to ensure a high quality of life and vibrant economy for its citizens. And the state conservation trust funds have been crucial partners in that effort.
