Good news for anyone who loves to get outdoors in Wilmington—whether you’re walking, running, or biking. The city is officially moving ahead with the next section of the Greenville Loop Trail, making the Port City even more welcoming to all forms of transportation.
On Tuesday, July 15, Wilmington City Council approved plans for the second segment of the popular trail. This section comes with a price tag of just under $3.9 million, funded in part by a transportation bond voters approved back in 2014.
The first part of the Greenville Loop Trail, which is already open, stretches for a mile between Holly Tree Road and Pine Grove Drive. The new section will pick up where that leaves off, extending the trail from Pine Grove Drive to Old Military Road.
Once complete, the trail will feature an eight- to ten-foot-wide pathway, accessible ramps, a new traffic signal, and improved safety features—especially near Bradley Creek Elementary School, where foot traffic is heavy.
Getting to this point hasn’t been easy. City planners faced a few challenges along the way, including working around private property, rerouting utilities, and managing stormwater systems. Add in fluctuating costs and a tight construction market—many contractors are still catching up from previous weather-related delays—and the project became a bit of a puzzle to solve.
Now, with approvals in place, construction is set to begin within the next two weeks. If all goes as planned, it could take up to nine months to finish this next piece of the city’s growing trail network.
For residents and visitors alike, the expanded trail means more opportunities to explore Wilmington on foot or by bike—connecting neighborhoods, easing traffic congestion, and making it easier to enjoy the city’s natural beauty.