Piedmont Greenway Master Plan - Town of Kernersville

Proposed Piedmont Greenway Alignment
The Piedmont Greenway Master Plan offers a vision for the future economic and social development of
the community. In order to establish the eighteen mile Piedmont Greenway in a manner that meets the opportunities,
constraints and goals of the project, the following primary Piedmont Greenway facilities are proposed
for future development. The following maps illustrate important “built” systems and natural systems of the
project corridor that served to influence the final Piedmont Greenway Master Plan map.
Of particular importance is the scope of both private and public lands that will benefit from a connection
to the Piedmont Greenway. These connections would enable local residents to gain access to the Piedmont
Greenway for transportation, recreation and education purposes defined within this Master Plan, and include
elements that are directly related to development of the trail and associated support facilities. This description
of the Piedmont Greenway alignment begins at the natural divisions that were identified as key regions for the
generation of this master plan as follows:
• Salem Lake Region
• Residential and Downtown Kernersville
• Residential Greensboro
• Lakes Segment
Segment 1 of the Piedmont Greenway begins at Salem Lake and extends north to Segment 14 at Lake
Higgins; some phases are alternative spur trails that are not part of the primary Piedmont Greenway but serve
only as connecting trail systems, they include Segments 3, 5, 6, and 14. The following description of Piedmont
Greenway begins with a description of proposed trailheads, the major public entry points into the Piedmont
Greenway corridor.
Salem Lake
Anchored by the Salem Lake Natural Area, this section of the Piedmont Greenway is proposed as a recreational
and educational trail stretching from Salem Lake to the East Forsyth High School. The Salem Lake
section was field-surveyed in October 2000. It is proposed that the Piedmont Greenway will be a multiuse
trail in this section that will include a diverse makeup of users such as walkers, bike riders and equestrians
(for Salem Lake portion only). This portion of the trail will reconnect the public with city and county park
land. The trail corridor will start at the existing Leesville Road trailhead at Salem Lake and continue across
Leesville Road where it will follow existing an sewer easement while skirting significant wetland areas until
reaching the box culvert at Business I-40, here the trail will cross under the highway before reaching the final
destination of East Forsyth High School.
Residential and Downtown Kernersville
This main arterial roadway is an urban section of the Piedmont Greenway that will serve as a central
spine through Kernersville. Historical treasures such as Körner’s Folly offer unique destinations
from the Piedmont Greenway. Kernersville Lake will provide a northern link and offers spectacular
recreational opportunities. Ultimately, the Piedmont Greenway will link into an off-road
trail that connects the YMCA with Kerners Mill Creek and the downtown commercial district of
Kernersville and area neighborhoods with Triad Park.
Residential Greensboro
The Residential Greensboro section (Guilford County) including Reedy Fork Creek was fieldsurveyed
in September 2000 and January 2001. It is proposed that the Piedmont Greenway will be
a multiuse trail in this section that will include a diverse makeup of users such as walkers, bike riders
and equestrians. This will be the central spine of the Piedmont Greenway network. Several segments
of the creek will reconnect the public with city and county historic and scenic farmlands. The
trail corridor will continue to the confluence of Reedy Fork Creek where it will follow the creek
corridor until it reaches a major destination, Triad Park trail system. Triad Park is a joint venture of
Forsyth and Guilford counties. With sections of trail already completed in Triad Park’s eventual
eight-mile trail system, plans are to extend the Piedmont Greenway northward along the scenic and
rural areas of Reedy Fork Creek. The Piedmont Greenway will utilize the existing system, following
the Reedy Fork Creek corridor at its southern entrance and northern exit from the park system.
Triad Park offers a unique central destination for the Piedmont Greenway and will offer trailhead
parking.
As the Piedmont Greenway continues northeast in Guilford County, it traverses a corridor
made up of suburban and rural countryside. Reedy Fork Creek offers an opportunity to preserve
a continuous green corridor from development. The trail will cross under the proposed Interstate
73 near its confluence with Reedy Fork Creek. From this point, the trail will diverge along a drainage
draw that will take it from Reedy Fork Creek near Northwest High School. Because of the
fragmented traffic patterns and potential vehicular conflict areas near the adjacent schools, a highly
visible crossing at Northwest School Road is recommended. The trail will follow Reedy Fork
Creek and allow the corridor to act as a spine that enables users to link to schools, neighborhoods
and historic sites including the Oak Ridge area, the Old Mill of Guilford and Northwest Middle and
High Schools.
Lakes Segment
The lakes segment will serve as the central spine of the Piedmont Greenway network in northern
Guilford County and will provide the final linkage to Lake Higgins. Plans are to extend the
Piedmont Greenway northward along the scenic and rural environs of Moore’s Creek. The trail will
provide recreational activities and will use an existing equestrian trail system. Several segments of
the creek will reconnect the public with historic and scenic farmlands. Neighborhoods near the corridor
will be able to link into the system, providing access to area schools and Lake Higgins Park.
PIEDMONT GREENWAY
Final Master Plan Report 25