Agenda 04-14-2026; 3 - Draft Orange County Trails Plan

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2 4. Expand access to excellent parks and recreation opportunities for a broader population, especially in the rural areas of the county. 5. Identify new and existing connections to complete the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) segment in Orange County. A process for public outreach and engagement is outlined in Section 3 of the draft Plan. This included a project webpage, e-newsletters, social media campaigns, digital display graphics and flyers at parks, among other efforts. Two (2) rounds of public engagement workshops were held in May and September of 2025, with accompanying online surveys that allowed participants to take in the workshop experience and provide feedback. Pop-up events were also held to try and reach out to other members of the public. Respondents and attendees provided information about current use of trails and parks, points of interest to be connected, and aspirational design vision. Individuals were also asked to prioritize different trail possibilities and react to an initial prioritization created from the workshops, surveys, on-site analysis and prior plans. Note: Coordination with the staff and consultant for the ongoing Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan was built into the Trails Plan effort as well. Staff and consultants participated in a joint workshop and both were present at a community outreach event. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan is continuing and will be coming to the Board later this year, and efforts to ensure consistency will be included. From the work done throughout 2025, a set of six (6) guiding principles were determined reflecting recurring themes from public engagement, meetings with the steering committee and alignment with guiding plans. These are (as shown on page 38 of the Plan): • Reflect Local Character • Advance Access and Equity • Prioritize User Safety • Expand Travel Options • Cultivate Community Wellness, and • Design for Longevity. All of the above work yielded a draft Plan that identifies nine (9) possible trails (three (3) of which have alternative routes): • Trail 1 — UNC Campus to University Station (aka the J Branch Rail Trail) • Trail 2 — Chapel Hill to Hillsborough (branching from Trail 1 along NC 86 to Waterstone and the Town of Hillsborough trails system) • Trail 3 — Carrboro to Hillsborough (a road route along Old NC 86 to the Town of Hillsborough trail system in Waterstone) • Trail 4 — Mountains to Sea Trail (MST/West - Two (2 ) alternatives connecting from the Alamance County line to Seven Mile Creek Natural Area) • Trail 5 — Seven Mile Creek to Riverwalk (via Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area) • Trail 6 — Mebane to Hillsborough (three (3) alternatives different points in Mebane to Panther Branch Natural Area or Hillsborough Riverwalk) • Trail 7 — Cedar Grove Park to Kings Highway Park (nature trail via the Eno River to Hillsborough) • Trail 8 — Little River Park to Cedar Grove Park (Two (2) alternatives via Northeast Park and Breeze Farm) • Trail 9 — Mountains to Sea Trail (MST/East— Eno River State Park to Durham)