Work will begin on the City of Raleigh’s Walkable Midtown plan later this year. The idea behind the project is to transform Midtown to increase its connectivity and walkability. Phase one will kickstart the development of the Midtown Waterfront District, which will include a new greenway connection and the creation of an urban waterfront park.

A new Greenway connection 🚴

The City of Raleigh recently purchased a ~2-acre property at 2701 Industrial Dr. along Crabtree Creek. With this acquisition, the city will connect the southern end of Industrial Dr. to the Capital Area Greenway via Crabtree Creek Trail, transforming a dead end and informal path into an official connection. It will be ADA accessible + have parking and signage.

The city expects to break ground and complete the connection this summer or fall.

This first project will likely cost around $200,000, senior city planner Jason Hardin told RALtoday. “While [the project] is small, I do think it will have a significant impact and start to lead to other public and private projects, as it will be the first true connection in that waterfront area to the greenway,” he said.

A waterfront park 🌳

The city’s recently acquired property will also form part of a new waterfront park.

The park, which will be built along Crabtree Creek, is currently in the design process. Jason estimates the park could be 10-20 acres, which would be much larger than Nash Square and Moore Square (both four acres) combined.

After specific engineering plans are finalized + funding and additional land are obtained, construction can begin.

A new bridge 🚶

A public-private rezoning proposal is in the works to build a pedestrian bridge that would cross over Crabtree Creek, connecting Industrial Dr. to the south side of Hodges St. The exact location of the bridge has not been determined + plans have not been finalized.

Midtown Waterfront District map

Waterfront District concept | Image via the City of Raleigh