McAlpine Creek Greenway: NC-51 to Johnston Road
McAlpine Creek Greenway: NC-51 to Johnston Road
This greenway trail project opened for use in December 2025 and expanded the existing McAlpine/McMullen/Four Mile system to 7.5 miles in length. The project also includes a new parking lot at Highway 51/Pineville-Matthews Road that should open by early 2026. If you are driving to explore the greenway, parking is available at the Johnston Road Trailhead (11823 Johnston Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226).
This project was constructed in partnership with the NCDOT.
Find more information on Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Capital Planning projects at: https://parkandrec.mecknc.gov/site-menu/current-projects
Project Updates:
December 2, 2025 Update: Thank you for your participation in the design and construction process for the McAlpine Creek Greenway trail project from Johnston Road to Highway 51/Pineville Matthews Road. Yesterday, the extension of McAlpine Creek Greenway trail was determined to be substantially complete and open to the public for use. The Johnston Road trailhead parking lot has also reopened for use. The new parking lot at Highway 51 is not yet open due to necessary electrical coordination for the gates; however, we hope to open it by the end of the year. Over the next few months, you may see some additional work to the trail shoulders and seeding/landscaping. Wayfinding signage will also be added in the coming months. If you are driving to explore the greenway, parking is available at the Johnston Road Trailhead (11823 Johnston Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226).
November 21, 2025 Update: Construction is nearing completion. Pending weather or other construction delays, the project is anticipated to be complete in early December.
October 23, 2024 Update: Thanks to all of the Shadowlake neighbors who helped clear the streets from on-street parking for the bridge delivery on Tuesday, 10/22/24!
November 17, 2023 Update: Mecklenburg County is under construction on the 1.1 mile McAlpine Creek Greenway Trail segment between the existing trail and parking lot at Johnston Road and Pineville-Matthews Road (NC-51). This project includes a new parking lot at Pineville-Matthews Road and connections to Ryder Ave, Pineville-Matthews Road/NC-51, and Johnston Road. The contractor is Eaglewood, Inc. and project is anticipated to be complete in Fall 2025. We look forward to seeing you on the trail in 2025.
August 10, 2021 Update: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation is providing an update on the McAlpine Creek Greenway project (Johnston Road to Green Rea Road). Due to difficulty acquiring the necessary real estate to make a greenway trail connection to Green Rea Road at this time, the Department is exploring a new trail alignment that terminates the greenway north of Highway 51/Pineville-Matthews Road (at the proposed trailhead parking lot). This alignment will include an access to Ryder Avenue, consistent with one of the options shared at the December 2020 virtual community engagement meeting (see map below). We will use any remaining project funding that would have paid for the connection to Green Rea Road to improve access to the greenway trail.
The Bannington Road Connection Bid Alternate was not accepted as the cost exceeded the project budget. This access trail will need to be constructed in the future.
Community Meeting for McAlpine Creek Greenway: Green Rea Road to Johnston Road
Join Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation to discuss the design process for the McAlpine Creek Greenway extension from Johnston Road to Green Rea Road.
Thanks for your interest! Registration is closed because the event has concluded.
Project Schedule:
Greenway Master Plan:
Additional questions? Contact:
Katie Lloyd, Senior Planner
Katie.Lloyd@MeckNC.gov or 980-266-0691