Crabtree Greenway trail - Bond Park to High House Road

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Project Background

This is a project for the design and construction of a section of the Crabtree Creek Greenway Trail. This project will extend over 2,500 feet, beginning from the existing trail system in Bond Park, proceeding north to an existing grade-separated crossing of Cary Parkway, then adjacent to the Preston soccer fields, and finally connecting to High House Road and a proposed street-side trail. 

This segment is a part of one of Cary’s primary greenway corridors as identified in the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Master Plan. The Crabtree Creek Greenway corridor is proposed to extend from Middle Creek in southern Cary north to Research Triangle Park. 

This project will complete an important gap in the Crabtree Creek Greenway corridor and provides another bike and pedestrian connection to the Preston soccer fields and to Bond Park, the hub of the greenway system.

Project Overview

The cost for this project is approximately $1.65 million. Of the amount budgeted, $1.32 million is grant-funded, with the remaining $330,000 provided by the Town as matching funds. Construction is now underway! 

Project Milestones

  • 2012: PRCR Master Plan Update
  • June 2019: Project grant approved in Cary’s FY20 Capital Improvements Budget
  • Fall 2021: Interlocal agreement between Town of Cary and NCDOT completed
  • Spring 2022: Project kick-off meeting
  • August 2022: Greenway Committee Presentation
  • Fall 2022: Virtual open house
  • Fall 2022: Council Weekly
  • Fall 2022: Social Media outreach
  • Fall 2022: This Week in Cary
  • Late 2022: 75% Design Complete
  • April 2023: Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Board Presentation
  • Fall 2023: 100% Design

Project Schedule

  • Spring 2024: Construction begins
  • Winter 2025: Project complete

Project Information

100% Design

100% Design Plans

 

Project Design Notes

The project alignment follows the PRCR Master Plan Crabtree Creek Greenway corridor, providing a connection between Bond Park, the baseball fields, and Preston Soccer Fields.  

The project begins at the north end of Crabtree Creek Greenway in Bond Park. The project will follow the existing trail that extends along the west side of Field 7. The path next to the field will be widened slightly to minimize conflicts between trail users and visitors to the fields.

With the project being constructed fully on town owned land, environmental stewardship is an important component in the design. As the trail extends north, it will follow an existing utility easement which minimizes the need for additional tree clearing or vegetation removal, preserving the existing canopy cover. Additionally, this alignment minimizes impacts such as erosion and vegetation loss to the environmentally sensitive Crabtree Creek floodplain and stream buffers. Limiting trails within the floodplain areas where possible also reduces potential damage to the trail infrastructure during periods of high-water levels, thereby reducing maintenance costs and trail closures. 

The trail will then cross a stream in a location that will minimize impacts to the stream banks. After crossing the stream, the trail extends into an existing grade separated culvert under Cary Parkway.  

After exiting the tunnel, the trail will wind between the Preston soccer fields and Crabtree Creek. This alignment will not impact the soccer fields and avoids impacting the stream bank. Finally, the trail will connect to a section of street-side trail on High House Road to be built with this project. Upon completion of the project, staff will work to incorporate additional landscaping and tree canopy where space allows. 

Public Engagement

Cary strives to keep neighbors informed throughout the planning, design and construction of a project. At the 30% design phase, we prepared a short presentation on the project, including design, location and connections.

Contact

Contact 311 with questions and feedback. Email 311@carync.gov, dial 311 within Cary limits or call (919) 469-4000.

Todd Milam
Transportation Planner