Mr. Greenways publishes News & Observer OpEd

Long term greeways avocate and Triangle Trails board chair, Sig Hutchinson, encourages Raleigh's Big Branch Greenway move forward. This 3.5 mile greenway connects Crabtree Creek Trail to Midtown. straight through North Hills. This critical link  will connect 10,000 homes  directly to the Greenway!  

There are concerns about Raleigh’s new greenway, but it will be worth it | Opinion

By Sig Hutchinson

Published in News & Observer, OCTOBER 29, 2025 9:23 AM

When asked, citizens and visitors of Raleigh are quick to talk about their love for our greenway system — and for good reason. It’s more than a network of trails. It’s part of who we are.

With 130 miles of connected greenways in Raleigh and over 250 miles throughout Wake County, our system has become a defining feature of the city, shaping our quality of life, our environment and even our reputation as one of America’s most livable communities.

Having spent more than 30 years as a greenway advocate, I’ve had countless conversations with homeowners uneasy about a proposed greenway near their neighborhoods. My message is always the same: you really do want this new greenway — you just don’t realize it yet. The current discussion around the proposed Big Branch Greenway is a perfect example.

Stretching 3.5 miles through the heart of Raleigh, the Big Branch Greenway will connect Downtown to Midtown, creating a seamless, natural corridor from the Crabtree Creek Greenway north through North Hills and beyond Millbrook Road. It’s not just another trail. It’s a transformative project that links people to places, neighborhoods to opportunity and residents to nature.

As the only new greenway project included in the 2022 Raleigh Parks Bond and passed by an overwhelming 73% of voters, this project has a strong public mandate. When complete, it will connect more than 10,000 residents living within a half mile of the corridor directly to the city’s greenway system and, by extension, to jobs, parks and schools across the region.

The Big Branch corridor is also the most direct, natural and safest route available. Alternatives along busy roads like Six Forks would be far more expensive, less scenic and less safe for cyclists and pedestrians. Instead, the city chose a route that prioritizes connectivity, ecology, and long-term sustainability — including a $1 million investment in stream restoration and stabilization to improve water quality and reduce flooding.

As with nearly every greenway project, a few nearby homeowners have raised concerns about cost, ownership and privacy. But Raleigh’s experienced planning and legal staff have handled these same issues successfully on dozens of prior projects. Ownership questions are routine. Funding gaps have been closed, in part with an additional $1.5 million from the city’s stormwater utility fund. And the city has even offered privacy fencing where requested — ensuring the trail will blend seamlessly into the landscape.

Change can be uncomfortable, but Raleigh’s story has always been one of progress and connection. Decades ago, the idea of a citywide greenway network was controversial. Today, it’s one of our proudest achievements. The Big Branch Greenway continues that legacy — linking communities, improving the environment and strengthening what makes Raleigh truly special.

When it’s built, I have no doubt that even its skeptics will come to love it. Because once you step onto a Raleigh greenway — surrounded by trees, neighbors and a sense of belonging — it’s impossible not to.

OpEd originally published 10/29/2025 in News and Observer.

Sig Hutchinson was elected in 2014 and served for eight years as a Wake County Commissioner. He currently serves as chair of the Triangle Trails Initiative and has been an advocate for greenways for 30 years.