McAlpine Creek and Campbell Creek Greenways are twin nature preserves located in southeastern Mecklenburg county with portions in both Charlotte and Matthews. McAlpine Creek Greenway was the first of greenway trail acquired and built in North Carolina's western Piedmont.
Together the parks have a total of 8.6-miles of trail, some wooded and some open. The greenways are both part of the Carolina Thread Trail, a project seeking to preserve parkland throughout the area for conservation and exploration.
Located within the greenway is McAlpine Creek Park, one of the premier soccer complexes in Mecklenburg County.
McAlpine Creek Park is home to five full-sized soccer fields, all of which are kept in fantastic condition and are bounded by a picturesque combination of woodlands, walking trails, creeks, and ponds.
This weekend the park was hosting the Charlotte Cross Country Invitational (.pdf link), an annual event hosted by the Charlotte 49ers cross country team.
The greenways are accessible by public transit for those who'd rather not drive using CATS routes 17 and 27.
I found the greenways to be a tremendously relaxing experience and expect they would be a great place to catch a soccer match or a cross country meet.
Name: Campbell Creek & McAlpine Greek Greenways, and McAlpine Creek Park
Completed: Originally in 1979
Tenants: Public use
Pros: Pretty much everything, the greenway system is one of Mecklenburg's greatest treasures.
