By Jeff Havener
January 2026
In Raleigh today, including greenways in new development is relatively straightforward.
The harder — and more important — work is integrating greenway corridors into places that were 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝.
That’s where the city is now. And it’s where the real leadership challenge lies.
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐈𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝 — 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲
The recent decision around the Big Branch Greenway Connector illustrates this.
In established neighborhoods, greenway planning means:
Working within existing easements and development patterns
Balancing floodplain protection, utilities, and environmental constraints
Navigating proximity to homes and legitimate neighborhood concerns
Coordinating across Parks, Utilities, Transportation, and Planning early in the process
Addressing property acquisition challenges when no public easement exists, including, in limited cases, the potential need for eminent domain
These projects are rarely simple. But avoiding them leaves lasting gaps in the city’s connectivity.
𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬: 𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬
Greenways are often framed primarily as recreational amenities.
In built-out areas, they function as much more than that.
They provide:
Safe, low-stress routes for walking and biking
Connections to schools, jobs, transit, and daily services
Essential transportation for residents without reliable access to cars
For many Raleigh residents — including children, seniors, and people with disabilities — greenways are not optional amenities.
They are 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞.
When greenway gaps persist, the burden is not shared evenly. Established neighborhoods without continuous connections are often the same places where residents most depend on walking, biking, and transit.
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬, 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 — 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫
In established areas, greenways continue to intersect with:
Utility corridors and sewer infrastructure
Floodplains and stream buffers
Wildlife and ecological corridors
These layers only work when greenways are treated as 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐝-𝐨𝐧𝐬.
Integrating greenways into established areas requires coordination, flexibility, and patience. There are no shortcuts.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲
Raleigh’s greenway future won’t be defined only by what we plan into new growth.
It will be defined by how well we 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞, and whether those corridors meaningfully improve access, mobility, and equity for all residents.
This work is less visible, but it’s where the greatest public value now lies.