Catawba Bend phase 1 nears completion; county details trails, disc golf, mountain-bike projects and park activation
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Summary
York County staff said phase 1 of Catawba Bend — road, trailhead, parking, gatehouse and restrooms — will be ready for turnover to Parks in January; staff outlined dam repairs, a 1–1.5 mile greenway, mountain-bike trail (Jan start), and a grant-funded disc-golf course (budget $400,000 with $200,000 reimbursement).
York County parks and engineering staff told the County Council on Nov. 10 that Phase 1 of the Catawba Bend Preserve — including a mile-and-a-half entrance road, trailhead, restrooms, parking and a gatehouse — is nearing completion and is slated to transfer to Parks in January.
"If anybody's had a chance to get out here lately, it's really coming together," Lisa Hagood said. She told council that the one‑year contract incurred 60 rain‑delay days and that staff have pushed the completion timeline into January for turnover to Parks, which will set opening hours and prepare for a public celebration once additional amenities are finished.
Staff described related projects: repairs to nine park ponds and three dams bundled into a single contract (about $1.3 million attributed to dam repairs), followed by Greenway Trail Phase 1 (about $2.7 million of the same contract) to build a 10‑foot‑wide ADA‑accessible paved multi‑use trail over parts of a 1–1.5 mile corridor. Combined, staff said the contract is just over $4 million and the greenway construction period is 18 months, with expected completion by November 2027 if weather cooperates.
Parks staff said the mountain‑bike trail is grant-funded (Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Recreation Trails Program), will begin construction in January with a December contract coming to council, and should finish by July; disc golf is also grant‑funded and budgeted at $400,000 with up to $200,000 reimbursable from a grant program.
Parks director-level staff (Catherine) outlined staffing additions, recent certifications for park staff, and a growing events calendar — including a successful Fall Fest, large Halloween attendance, pickleball membership rollout for a special tax district, and plans for "Christmas in Lake Wylie" to use new park amenities. Staff also reported 5,700 vehicle visits to Bill Day Park during a one‑week count, evidence they said of strong public use.
Staff will bring several construction contracts to council in December (disc golf, mountain bike trails, equestrian trails) and indicated they will return with a schedule and Gantt charts for council monitoring in future quarterly updates.
