The Herald-Sun
October 7, 2004
DURHAM — Gene Mayhall of Durham writes in to say that he and his wife have ridden their bicycles on greenways — linear parks — all over the United States and even Canada. “Durham’s American Tobacco Trail (ATT), while not the longest, is one of the very best,” says Mayhall. “We’re lucky to have it.”
If the East Coast Greenway (ECG) is successful with its plans, the ATT along with the South Ellerbee Creek Trail in northern Durham will become part of the longest greenway project in the country. The East Coast Greenway is an effort to build a continuous 2,600 mile path stretching from Calais, Maine, to Key West, Fla.
Touted as an urban alternative to the Appalachian Trial, the East Coast Greenway will be an off-road and mostly paved connection between the major cities of the eastern United States.
Greenways provide opportunities for recreation, relaxation and transportation. Like a road, a greenway establishes a connection between where you are and where you need to go. Like a park, greenways draw to them people looking to relax or workout.
Like all good ideas, the East Coast Greenway requires a lot of planning and work. That’s why right now seven people, including Carroll Webber of Greenville, N.C., are bicycling from Maine to Florida to raise money for and awareness of the greenway’s mission. For the first annual East Coast Greenway Tour, each rider is raising $10,000 to help build new sections of the path. The group as a whole is bringing to the nation’s attention the potential greenways possess for bringing communities, even cities, closer together.
Bill Bussey, the North Carolina state chair for the East Coast Greenway, says, “I just think it would be neat to be able to ride a bike from Durham to Washington, D.C., to New York City, or even to Key West.” In the near future, you may be able to do just that. Many cities along the way already have paths which have been designated part of the official greenway route. In these cities, the seven riders are biking those paths. For much of the route, however, they’re riding on roads parallel to the proposed route. When they reach Key West, it will be the first time anyone has ridden the proposed route in its entirety.
The group rides into Durham via the South Ellerbee Creek Trail on Tuesday. They will spend a day of rest on Wednesday and leave via the American Tobacco Trail on Oct. 14. On Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m., the Carolina Tarwheels are hosting a potluck dinner for the tour riders at the Armory in downtown Durham. This event is open to the public, and if you bring a dish, no RSVP is required. Donations will be accepted.
The American Tobacco Trail, the South Ellerbee Creek Trail and Durham’s six other greenways have already proven themselves vital to our community’s wellness. Their users reflect the diversity that makes Durham so strong; from wheelchairs to Litespeeds, from walkers to commuters. Nearly everyone can use greenways; that’s one of the things that makes them such a good investment for the community.
The ECG is unique in that it requires municipalities to work together in ways they normally don’t. “When you link greenways together,” says Bussey, “you get more bang for your buck.” A well-designed greenway can be a regional attraction. Imagine the potential for a trail spanning the entire East Coast. If the East Coast Greenway successfully links Maine with Florida, then the combined effect will truly be greater than the sum of its parts.
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TO LEARN MORE For more information on local greenways, contact Bill Bussey at 545-9104. You can also visit the East Coast Greenway’s web site.