Hit the trail in Rutherfordton

The Town of Rutherfordton is on its way to having a trail system that will provide opportunities for residents to get outdoors, and to potentially boost economic development.

The Purple Martin Trail will eventually connect Crestview and Kiwanis Parks with a true greenway space, said Rutherfordton Town Manager Doug Barrick.

"At the end of the day when we are able to connect those parks, we'll be at 3.1 miles, which is a 5K," he said.

The first phase of the Purple Martin Greenway opened this fall. The trail - the newest in the county - is part sidewalk and part 10-foot wide paved path. It connects the existing Crestview Park Trail to a creekside trail on the other side of U.S. 221.

The second phase of the Purple Martin Trail, which will stretch 2,000 feet northward toward the heart of town following Cleghorn Creek, is being made possible by a grant awarded by the RHI Legacy Foundation.

Barrick said the overall wellness of the town is a means to spur growth in the corridor along Cleghorn Creek and 221.

"As we visited other cities to get ideas about greenway systems, one of the things we saw was growth of business along trails," he said. "One of the things we want to look at is how can we make sure our zoning codes allow for outdoor recreation-style pieces to go along where the trail will be."

Any number of businesses could locate along the trail he said, such as bicycle and outdoor shops to restaurants with outdoor seating.

"It's a Pandora's Box for the future for what we can imagine," he said.

The Purple Martin Trail will eventually meet up with the Isothermal Rail Trail, Barrick said. And with Forest City and Spindale also interconnected with the trails system, it could mean Rutherford County would have a new reason for folks to visit.

"When all of this is in place, we really become a viable tourist destination for those looking for an active vacation - we can become a competitor for the Virginia Creeper Trail. People will be able to say 'Maybe I'll hop on my bike and ride to Spindale and then catch the trail to Rutherfordton,'" he said.

For more information on the Purple Martin Trail, and other trails in Rutherford County, visit the Rutherford Outdoor Coalition's website at rutherfordoutdoor.org.