[Durham INC] Invitation to ATT to South Street Connector Ribbon Cutting (Saturday, May 15 at 10am)

[John Schelp]

The Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the City of Durham invite you to a ribbon cutting of the American Tobacco Trail to South Street Connector path at 1630 South Street in Durham on Saturday, May 15 at 10 a.m.

This ribbon cutting event should last for about thirty minutes.

This connector path project was planned, cleared and managed by volunteers of the Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (TRTC) and paid for with a grant from the North Carolina State Parks Adopt-a-Trail Grant Program. Cole's Concrete was the prime contractor for the 8 foot-wide concrete path which connects the American Tobacco Trail (ATT) and South Street across from the West Lawson Street intersection.

The Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy partnered with Durham Parks and Recreation, the NCDOT Rail Division, the NCDOT Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation, the Durham Dept. of Transportation, the Durham Impact Team, and Brother Ray Eurquhart on this project.

This connector will allow Southside community residents to more easily access the American Tobacco Trail. From there, users can access shopping, businesses, parks, schools and neighborhoods along the currently completed 8 miles of ATT and Riddle Road Spur trails.

American Tobacco Trail users will be able to easily access South Street, Lawson Street and Roxboro Street permitting easy connections to nearby C.C. Spaulding Elementary School, NC Central University, Hillside Park, Durham Tech, and the Southside Community.

Like much of the ATT, the connector is ADA compliant, which allows those who use a wheelchair, scooter or walker to easily access the American Tobacco Trail.

Mayor Bell says about the connector: "We are pleased about this project because it shows a true partnership between a private organization - the Triangle Rails to Trails Conservancy and several city departments. The connector will make access easier for people to get to American Tobacco Trail (ATT) and a variety of destinations including schools, universities and parks. It is always a good thing to provide opportunities for citizens to walk, bike and enjoy Durham's environs."

This connector path is the latest project TRTC has donated to and/or constructed for the City of Durham to help make the American Tobacco Trail better for all. It joins the Fayetteville Road ATT Access Area, the Solite Park ATT Access Ramp, a safety fence along the Duke Park trail, and opening the ATT for interim use south of Massey Chapel Road to the Chatham County line, which have been developed over the past several years. Over 500 TRTC volunteers have donated thousands of volunteer hours in service in these and other ongoing projects during the past decade.

We welcome all to join us as we formally open this latest addition to the American Tobacco Trail in Durham.

Happy Trails,

Bill Bussey
Vice President
Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
www.triangletrails.org
919 545-9104