Last summer, more than 2,100 people signed our petition asking Mecklenburg’s County Commissioners to fund 13 parks and greenways projects that had been approved by voters in 2008 but remain unbuilt 10 years later. Thanks to everyone who added their voice, the Commissioners heard and responded by voting to commit $49 Million over the next five years to plan and fund those projects!

Photo credit: Greenways for Mecklenburg

Today we’re excited to tell you more about an exciting initiative to keep Mecklenburg County’s greenway network moving forward. Sustain Charlotte has joined Greenways for Mecklenburg and several other organizations in asking the County Commission to complete a 150-mile greenway network by 2030, and a 200-mile network by 2035!

Sustain Charlotte’s Program Director Meg Fencil was interviewed about the role of greenways. Check out WSOC’s coverage.

Today we submitted the letter below to the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners and County Manager Dena Diorio regarding funding for completing our 2008 - 2018 Greenways Master Plan:

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June 11, 2017

Dear Commissioners and Manager Diorio,

You have a terrific opportunity right now to complete a connected greenway system that will provide healthy outdoor recreation opportunities, spur economic development, increase property values, and provide more safe and efficient ways to travel by foot and bicycle.

Last week, Charlotte was honored to play host to a world renowned expert on creating safe and inviting urban places for people of all ages and abilities. Gil Penalosa is the Founder of 8 80 Cities, an organization with a mission of creating public spaces that are safe and inviting for 8 year-olds and 80 year-olds.

Sustain Charlotte organized a bike ride from Romare Bearden Park to Freedom Park with Gil. When we arrived in Freedom Park, he shared a key observation. "Look all around you. On this beautiful day, people are walking and riding bikes on [the Little Sugar Creek Greenway]. You see people with dogs, moms with babies, old people. Do you know why they are here? What's not here? Cars!"

Charlotte residents, tomorrow November 4th is Election Day! As Charlotte's population continues to grow, it's critical that we not only maintain our existing infrastructure, but also improve our streets, trails, neighborhoods, and housing to meet the needs of current and future residents.

We hope you've heard about the three bonds that will be on your ballot tomorrow. If not, this post will help you understand the basics and where to find more information. Each bond will be presented separately, and we encourage you to vote 'Yes' for all of them. We're sharing the following information from the Vote Yes For City Bonds website to help you make an informed decision at the polls.