“Established in 1777, Morganton is the county seat and cultural, governmental, financial, and commercial center of Burke County, the largest county in Western North Carolina. Sitting in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains between Hickory and Asheville, Morganton’s location along I-40 makes it an important economic center for the region.

Morganton and the surrounding counties, cities, and towns are blessed with scenic rural landscapes, bountiful natural resources, and a rich historic and cultural heritage. Lake James State Park, the Linville Gorge, Pisgah National Forest, and South Mountains State Park are short drives from the city. Morganton prides itself on providing big city services wrapped in small town charm.”

The Foothills Conservancy approached the Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) looking to evaluate an existing trail system on a site just south of Downtown Morganton. An array of different types of trails exist on the various properties of the site. In addition, the largest stakeholder on this “Pentagon” site, Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC), seeks to welcome and attract community members to the area for recreational use. With this in mind, WPCC is requesting options for an enhanced trail system that will connect with the various other sites, including the North Carolina School for the Deaf (NCSD) and Broughton Hospital. Burke County, hailed as “Nature’s Playground,” also seeks to create an environment that promotes healthy living. This project will work in conjunction with the North Carolina Forest Service’s goal of appropriate large scale reforestation.

The Community Design Assistance Center prepared a conceptual master plan for trails, as well as detailed amenity spaces, planting recommendations, and reforestation guidelines.