Understanding user expectations And planning for long term sustainability 1

Understanding user expectations And planning for long term sustainability 1

What is a natural surface trail? It can be as simple has a mineral soil, mulched or graveled pathway, or as developed as elevated or raised boardwalks and bridges Urban Natural Surface Trails Natural surface trails are increasingly emerging throughout neighborhoods, private lands, and other developments. These trails are becoming more and more of an accepted or desired amenity. 2

Elements of Urban & Wilderness Natural Surface Trails & Their Users Rural/Wilderness/Back Country Settings (Non-urban) Planned Excursion Urban Trails Typically less planned or spur of moment Potential unknown conditions Multi mile or multi day excursions or long day hikes Specialized Equipment/gear more likely to be needed Higher cost to use (user fees, transportation etc.) Controlled environment Convenient opportunity for recreation. Shorter time requirement minutes to hours Typically less gear required (exception specialized recreation) Typically little to no user fees 3

Common Concerns & Misconceptions of Soil Trails Mud - A natural surface trail will be a muddy mess Are you going to gravel or mulch trail?? Erosion Vegetation & Wildlife concerns Archeological Long Term Maintenance Safety: Tripping hazards, getting lost in woods, crime Maintenance & Construction Costs Accessibility concerns Reality Check: Proper layout & design & construction can mitigate these 4

Common User Groups for Urban Natural Surface Trails Families Dog Walkers Neighborhood Children (unsupervised) Recreationists (trail runners, casual walkers, bicyclists, fishermen etc.) Nature Observers Schools (field trips, environmental education) 5

What are User Perception & Expectations for Urban Natural Surface Trails Trail conditions are favorable for user groups Not muddy Smooth trail textures Few hazards (poison ivy, trip hazards) Sense of discovery Safe Convenient 6

Personal Values Ascribed to Trails 7

Design & Construction Elements Uses & Impact on Trail Stability & Sustainability 8

Design & Construction Elements 9

Design & Construction Elements 10

Typical Trails Widths for Natural Surface Trails- Non-motorized Uses 11

Case Study Carolina Thread Trail Gaston County, NC Seven Oaks Preserve 12

Seven Oaks Overview Trail Uses - Walking / Hiking / Running/Mountain Biking Place- Belmont Difficulty- Easy Length- 2.8 miles, One Way Surface- Natural surface Fees -No Pets Permitted on leash Motorized vehicles Not Permitted ADA Compliant- No Number of parking spaces -Several Restrooms -No Has terminus at South New Hope Rd with side trail connection to Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Hours of operation, Sunrise-Sunset 13

Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Quick Facts Major Wetland Attraction Trail connects to private botanical garden (Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden) Portions will be surrounded in the future by large scale developments 14

Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Anticipated User Groups Trail runners & walkers Bicyclists Fishermen Families Dog walkers School groups Nature Observers 15

Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County,NC Site Characteristics Short 50 wide corridor Constrained to 300 corridor 30 lakeshore buffer Flat to moderately side sloped terrain Numerous drainage crossings Corridor comprised of woodland & open meadow 16

Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Construction Techniques Site required various methods of construction Full bench trail construction Forest road to trail conversion Trail through meadow Wetland Crossings 17

Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve, Gaston County, NC Trail through meadow Evaluation of existing micro- topography Evaluation of site watershed Determine the meadows lowest spots below trail and shape trail segments to drain 18

Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve, Gaston County, NC Trail through meadow Identifying suitable fill from on-site borrow Rough fill placement and mechanical compaction Hand crews groom to fine tune tread angles 19

Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve, Gaston County, NC Surfaced Trail Through Open Meadow Create trail tread elevations & slopes with imported fill based on existing micro-topography Carefully adjust as needed throughout flatter areas Example illustrates three shaped tread segments within a 100 section:- insloped, outsloped & crowned 20

Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve, Gaston County, NC Full Bench Cut Trail -3 wide 0.4 miles of 2.8 miles required fully excavating the trail into side slope Mechanically compacted Hand finished trail tread angles such as back slope angle, trail out slope angles, critical point rounding, spoil reduction Naturalized corridor with existing leaf litter done as segments become finished 21

Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Trail Placement On Forest Roads 22

Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Trail Placement On Forest Roads 23

Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Trail Placement On Forest Roads Thread trail parallels scour line on road shoulder Tread drains to center of old road 24

Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Trail Placement On Forest Roads 25

Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Trail Placement On Forest Roads Trail critical point, highlighted in black is placed on outside edge of old roadbed Trail tread sheet drains to left Corridor vegetation managed to break feeling of being on roadbed 26

Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Wetland Crossings 27

Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Wetland Crossings Broad low flow drainage Note: Curvilinear layout to emphasis curve of trail Low impact Helical pier foundation system to minimize land disturbance Longer life span than pressure treated lumber & no leaching into water & soils 28

Case Study Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve 29

Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve 30

West Branch Overview Trail Uses - Walking / Hiking / Running Place- Davidson Difficulty- Easy Length- 0.9 miles, One Way Surface- Natural surface Fees -No Pets Permitted on leash Motorized vehicles Not Permitted ADA Compliant- No Number of parking spaces -None Restrooms -No Hours of operation, Sunrise-Sunset 0.9 natural surface trail, Has termini in Summer Walk Subdivision and the River Run Country Club Community Close to River Farm Subdivision Trail connects to paved Rocky Branch River Greenway. Most biologically diverse wetland in Mecklenberg County is located in the West Branch Nature Preserve. 31

Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve Quick Facts Significant wetland feature Provides neighborhood connections Preserve located in area heavily developed with future development phases coming 32

Main User Groups Trail runners & walkers Families Dog walkers School groups Nature Observers Children (poss. Unsupervised) Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve 33

Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve Site Characteristics Mature hardwood stands Recently logged portions Flat to moderately side sloped terrain Numerous drainage crossings Trail placement on utility right of way Mix of sand, clay & loam Heavy beaver activity 34

Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve Construction Techniques Site required various methods of construction Full bench construction Trail placement on bog bridging on Utility line corridor Wetland Crossings Wetland Observation Platform 35

Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve Full Bench Cut Trail -4 wide 0. 6 miles of 0.9 miles required fully excavating the trail into side slope Mechanically compacted Hand finished trail tread angles such as back slope angle, trail out slope angles, critical point rounding, spoil reduction Naturalized corridor with existing leaf litter done as segments become finished 36

Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve Full Bench Cut Trail -4 wide Trail bench cuts were deliberately shaped around many of the significant hardwood trees Care was taken to avoid root damage by covering with soil 37

Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve Trail Placement on Utility Line Corridor Careful attention to microtopography when available Minimizing conflict with utility corridor maintenance through trail placement Utility easement surrounded by floodplain & heavy beaver activity created challenges 38

Trail near stream and floodplains required multiple structures, most of which were supported on helical piers Benefit of helical piers is stability, durability and low land disturbance Wetland observation deck has its own dedicated access trail off the main trail Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve Wetland Crossings 39

Planning & Constructing Urban Natural Surface Trails Final Thoughts Know your anticipated user group Know site - its opportunities & constraints Plan your trail accordingly Establish trail construction standards and stick to them Maintain regularly volunteers, friends groups, staff 40

Benchmark Trails, Inc. Building & Designing Sustainable Trails since 2001 www.benchmarktrails.com 41