Proposed Thornrose Greenway Trail

Concerns Addressed
The Thornrose HOA has expressed concerns about the proposed trail specifically in regard to three areas: access, parking and safety.

The Town of Wake Forest attempts to address these issues below:

1. Access
   The proposed Thornrose Greenway trail spur will serve as a neighborhood side trail that provides access to the Smith and Sanford Creek Greenway. The Smith and Sanford Creek greenway will then connect the Thornrose community to such destinations as Heritage Elementary, Middle and High Schools, local grocery stores, Heritage High School Park and Smith Creek Soccer Center. The 10-feet-wide greenway side trail will also serve as an appropriate replacement for the existing dirt trails students have created over time that meander towards Heritage High School. The greenway side trail will be an asset to the entire Thornrose community and serve as a safe option for residents wishing to access local points of interest.

2. Parking
   We understand that Thornrose residents are concerned that parking could become an issue along Song Sparrow Drive once the greenway side trail opens. However, the town and the design team do not expect this to be a problem due to the ample parking that will be provided by the project at nearby locations, such as the Heritage High School Park and the proposed Foundation Drive trailhead parking lot. However, in the event Thornrose residents report unapproved parking within their neighborhood as a result of the greenway, the town will respond quickly by posting "No Parking" signage in the area where the side trail connects into the Thornrose existing sidewalk system and will enforce as needed.

3. Safety
   It is the mission of the Wake Forest Police Department to safeguard the lives and property of its residents, to reduce the incidence and fear of crime and to enhance public safety. This mission encompasses the many miles of greenway within Wake Forest. Wake Forest police and staff meet regularly to discuss ways to ensure our greenways remain as safe as they can possibly be. Among the actions that have resulted from these meetings have been the implementation of periodic bike patrols and the addition of trail markers along our greenway to aid response times. The police department also utilizes all-terrain vehicles to patrol certain areas along our greenways and the town plans to add more informational signage throughout its greenway system. To date, crime has not been an issue. However, Wake Forest police remain dedicated to ensuring area citizens continue to feel safe when enjoying our local trails.

For more information about Wake Forest's extensive system of trails and greenways, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/greenways.aspx.