Parks and Greenways

It’s easy to escape into nature in University City. Just step onto one of our greenways and let these forested creek bottoms carry you away, even in the heat of summer. Take reflective walks in the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens and greenhouse – delightful in any season! Or get hiking at our two nature preserves: Reedy Creek (with 737 acres, 10 miles of trails and a nature center offering numerous programs) and Ribbonwalk (an 188-acre urban forest with 3 miles of trails, creeks, pond and a priceless stand of beech trees nearly 200 years old).

Our greenways provide a bike-friendly way to travel as well as escape. Toby Creek, Mallard Creek and Clark’s Creek greenways run 12 miles through the university campus, University Research Park and a dozen neighborhoods (download Greenway Map). These trails also are key segments on two ambitious trail systems – the emerging Carolina Thread Trail with 1,400 miles of trails planned across our region, and the future 26-mile Cross Charlotte Trail through uptown and beyond to South Carolina. View the 2008-2018 Greenway Master Plan.