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Commissioners add Dutchman’s Creek to Carolina Thread Trail as a blueway
Summary
Gaston County commissioners voted unanimously to amend the Carolina Thread Trail master plan to designate the first 2.5 miles of Dutchman’s Creek as a blueway, connecting Mount Holly to the Catawba River and the larger Catawba River blueway.
The Gaston County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an amendment to the Carolina Thread Trail master plan on May 27 to designate a portion of Dutchman’s Creek in Mount Holly as a blueway.
Peyton Wiggins, Planner II in Building and Development Services, told the board the amendment adds roughly the first 2.5 miles of the creek as a designated paddling route. Dutchman’s Creek begins near Sandy Ford Road and flows into the Catawba River; the approved section will connect to the existing Catawba River blueway at the confluence, linking to a 27-mile segment on the river.
Wiggins said local partners including the city of Mount Holly, Catawba Riverkeeper, the Carolina Thread Trail and the Gaston County Parks and Recreation Board supported the amendment and provided letters included in the commissioners’ packet. The Mount Holly City Council adopted a resolution of support April 28, and the county Planning Board recommended approval 9–0.
Commissioner Bob Hovis moved to approve the amendment; Commissioner Scott Sheehan seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioners noted the blueway would offer paddlers a mix of quiet rural scenery and sections that pass through Mount Holly’s textile-era historic areas.
The approved amendment updates the Thread Trail maps and authorizes staff to incorporate the Dutchman’s Creek blueway into county planning documents.
