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TOWN OF MORRISVILLE
6-22
Sections 5.4 and 5.12 of the UDO address tree protection and landscaping. The preservation
and planting of vegetation serves to protect the environment in numerous ways. Vegetation
prevents erosion and filters air, water, and noise pollution.
6.2.2.3 Comprehensive Parks, Recreation, Greenways, and Open Space Master Planning
The Town of Morrisville, the Town of Cary, and Wake County have been working together
with the Triangle Land Conservancy, the Triangle Greenways Council, and the North
Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation (Trails) to ensure connectivity of their greenways
and other trails regionally.
Comprehensive Greenway Planning
The Town’s 2011 Parks and Recreation Master Plan
includes existing and proposed greenways and multi-use paths (Town of Morrisville, 2011).
The Town’s greenways are 10-foot-wide paved paths. There are no design standards for
private greenways, but each must be 8 to 10 feet wide, if it is along a road. Most greenways
are along creeks, including Crabtree Creek, Indian Creek, and Cedar Creek, and provide
interconnectivity to the parks. The Town views its 2011 Parks and Recreation Master Plan as
an extension of its transportation plan and is striving for a reputation as a walkable and
bikeable community. Therefore, the Town is working with surrounding communities to
connect its greenways to other transportation corridors, as shown in the 2011 Parks and
Recreation Master Plan map, by proposing greenways that connect with RTP and Town of
Cary. This plan includes a comparison of the 2001, 2005, and 2006 Greenway Master Plan
maps showing the Town’s concerted effort to increase the greenway system (The Louis
Berger Group, 2009b). The 2009 Transportation Plan contains a map of proposed greenways
and paths, as well as sidewalks and bike lanes for the Town. More information regarding
greenways is presented later in this section.
The Town has planned an extensive greenway network totaling over 58 miles. Much of the
planned multi-use paths are tied to major roadway improvements or construction of new
roads. As of March 2011, 7.8 miles of greenway and multi-use paths have been completed.
Town staff anticipates an additional 3 miles constructed within the next 5 years (Town of
Morrisville, 2011). Other greenway projects include:
1)
Installation of Indian Creek Greenway
2)
Shiloh Greenway, under construction, which will be 1.7 miles and pass through Park;
over 10 percent of Town residents live within .5 mile of this trail
3)
A Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant with the Town of Cary to
construct 1.2 miles of Crabtree Creek Greenway, running from Lake Crabtree Park to the
Town Center area of Morrisville
4)
Hatcher Creek Greenway, which will total 1.8 miles
Parks
The Town’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Department strives to enhance
the quality of life for residents while working to acquire, develop, vitalize, beautify, and
conserve a system of parks, greenways, open spaces, and recreational areas. The Town’s
2011 Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan aims to identify and preserve
undeveloped areas as open space (Town of Morrisville, 2011).