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Observations
September 12, 2019 |
 |
 Wingate Lassiter |
We're fortunate to host a portion
of N.C.'s Mountains-to-Sea Trail
Folks were invited to take a walk on Smithfield's Buffalo Creek Greenway last Saturday morning as part of a statewide celebration of the 42nd birthday of North Carolina's Mountains-to-Sea Trail.
I "joined" the celebration. Actually, I walked about two of the three miles and back on my own. But I did see a pretty good representation of folks "enjoying" our town's first and only greenway.
I say "enjoying" because it was not the ideal day for exerting oneself outdoors. The sun was hot on the unshaded portions of the trail, and the humidity was what you'd expect around here this time of year --- certainly not pleasant.
Most folks I saw were walking in pairs or triplets. Others were riding bicycles. A few hearty souls were jogging. Perhaps half of them were aware of the "celebration." The others were out there because for them it has become a healthy habit for body and soul.
Actually, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail is far from finished, at least around here. Our three-mile greenway is officially designated as part of the MST. But it's not connected to any other part (except by roads to follow to fill in the gaps).
Plans are in the works to connect our part with the Neuse River Trail already built between Clayton and the Falls Lake Dam at Raleigh. At last report, the MST folks are talking with property owners about easements to allow the connection from here to Clayton.
The only plan at this time for extending the MST from Smithfield toward the coast are maps designating roadways for the routing. Here's a link to the MST "Future Plans" web page with maps "completing" the envisioned 1,175-mile route>
A status report on Smithfield's
greenway
The Town of Smithfield built the Buffalo Creek Greenway (mostly with grants), and remains responsible for it. For the most part, the Parks and Recreation folks are doing a good job: The pavement is kept clear of trash and storm debris and the grassy shoulders are mowed regularly, keeping the trail safe and inviting for those who use it.
As you can see in the photo on the left,
portions of the trail can remain wet for days after heavy
rainfall (brought by Hurricane Dorian last week). That's
the natural drainage from higher ground toward Buffalo
Creek, especially along the trail between Buffalo Road and
Community Park. (Greenway trails are built to withstand
these conditions rather than putting up barriers to Mother
Nature's handiwork.)This time of year, overhead vegetation is encroaching on the right-of-way at several points, causing pedestrians as well as bicyclists to duck out of the way (assuming one is paying attention to what's ahead). Of course, the arrival of colder weather will take care of much of that, at least for a while.
The fencing along the trail close to the riverbank north of Market Street is in need of repair. It's especially noticeable since town crews cleared vegetation from the fencing this summer, apparently to give spectators a clearer view of the River Raft Regatta that didn't take place this summer because of risky river conditions on two occasions.
I'm not aware of anyone who has gotten off course badly enough to crash into the river, but the sooner those fences are fixed, the better.
Critters (a.k.a. snakes and such) are hardly ever seen, at least by this walker and cyclist. I did notice a worm during my walk last Saturday, and also a grasshopper, on the pavement. But I'm sure folks more observant than I have seen larger wildlife worth talking about.
If you haven't explored the Buffalo Creek Greenway, round up your family, or a friend, and check it out --- although I would recommend waiting until our miserable summer weather breaks into fall-like conditions....
Vegetation along the fencing north of Market Street was recently cleared to improve the view of the river from the trail. That work also exposed portions of fencing in need of repair.
Besides cutting back overhanging
vegetation, we historians would like for the town to see
summer's growth cleared away from the plaque on the
abandoned abutment below Bridge Street so folks can read
about the "Old Bridge Site">One of the benefits of our greenway is improved access to Smithfield's historical beginnings as a ferry landing on the Neuse. The precise location of Smith's Ferry isn't identified, but it was likely in the vicinity of the boat ramp at the north end of Front Street.
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