Background & Purpose
Haywood County is developing the County's first Countywide Greenway Plan. In 2021, the County was awarded a North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) / Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) planning grant through the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization (FBRMPO) to pursue a study for a Greenway Plan throughout Haywood County. The plan will serve as a guide for the County to design, fund, and implement future projects to create a safe, connected, and resilient greenway system for Haywood County. The ultimate goal of this project is to develop a greenway plan that will help achieve local and regional goals for transportation, health, safety, economic prosperity, and resilience to natural disasters.
Greenways and trails bring numerous benefits to Haywood County and the region. A greenway network can be...
Greenways and trails bring numerous benefits to Haywood County and the region. A greenway network can be...
- a means of reaching destinations
- a way for residents to get physical activity
- a place for neighbors and friends to socialize
- a driver of economic prosperity
- a buffer to increase resilience to flooding
- ...and more!
Planning Process
The planning process includes input from the public, participation and direction from project stakeholders, and public presentations of draft and final plans. The timeframe for these and other steps are outlined below:
- Ongoing: Public Outreach
- Spring 2022: Project Kick-Off & Existing Conditions; First Round of Public Workshops
- Summer 2022: Draft Plan Development & Review
- Fall 2022: Second Round of Public Workshops
- Winter 2022-2023: Final Plan Development & Presentation
- Early 2023: Final Plan Adoption
Steering Committee & Stakeholders
The study is guided by a Steering Committee representing a range of perspectives, and will draw upon a group of stakeholders for input throughout the process, including, but not limited to:
- Haywood County
- Municipalities of Canton, Clyde, Maggie Valley, and Waynesville
- Lake Junaluska
- North Carolina Department of Transportation
- French Broad River MPO
- Haywood Waterways Association
- Local businesses and advocacy groups
- Local and regional healthcare agencies and providers