This map shows the path of the Jonesville Greenway from U.S. 21 along the Yadkin River to Interstate 77 near Jonesville Town Hall.
JONESVILLE — While residents of Jonesville, and visitors alike, have had an opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of life and slow things down on the Jonesville Greenway, town officials now are looking for ideas on ways to enhance what the greenway has to offer.
The two-mile walking/hiking trail winds along the Yadkin River and incorporates two bridges, one being a covered bridge, while stretching from U.S. 21 to Interstate 77.
The Jonesville Tourism Development Authority is hosting a public input session Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Yadkin Valley Senior Center on Delos Martin Drive.
A flyer advertising the meeting encourages those in the community “to attend to ask questions about and provide invaluable input into the ongoing development of the beautiful Jonesville Greenway.”
The public meeting will be an informal set-up so that residents can come and go as they have time during the two-hour event. Large maps of the greenway will be available for viewing at the meeting, and smaller maps and information also will be provided for residents to take home.
“Members of the TDA and parks and recreation department will be available for you to talk with and share your opinions,” noted the flyer. “How would you like to use your greenway? This is your chance to be a part of the next phase of development of this great recreational area along our own Yadkin River.
“We truly do want to hear how you’d like to enjoy your Jonesville Greenway,” said organizers on the flyer.
In a previous article on the greenway, Jonesville Town Manager Scott Buffkin said, “What I like is it is so close to town, but when on the trail, a person feels a hundred miles away.” He added that the development of the greenway has been a high point in his seven-year career with Jonesville.
The greenway has two access points at present, but Buffkin said previously some of the things he’d like to see are a canoe and kayak access, primitive camping, handicap access to the river and other amenities for users of the trail.
The trail begins behind Starmount Plaza Shopping Center at the Gregory Keith Martin Park, with a second entrance behind Jonesville Town Hall.
Buffkin explained a Clean Water Management Trust Fund grant totaling $440,000 was the initial funding used to acquire properties for the greenway. Other funding sources included a federal recreational trails grant of $72,000; a North Carolina water resources water-based recreation grant of $41,000; and the donation of seven acres from local business owner Ken Nicks for the creation of the Gregory Keith Martin Park.
The Jonesville TDA also helped financially with providing the cover for the covered bridge over Sandy Berry Creek.
“I would like to thank the Mayberry/Walters family, the Harold and Branch families and the Nicks family for their generous property donations for the Jonesville Yadkin River Greenway Trail. They, along with the other property owners that the town worked with to acquire the properties, helped make the greenway possible,” said Buffkin.
Wendy Byerly Wood may be reached at 336-258-4035 or on Twitter @wendywoodeditor.
By Wendy Byerly Wood
wbyerly-wood@civitasmedia.com
Leave a Reply