Runners want cameras installed along Charlotte greenways as safety concerns mount
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Runners across Mecklenburg County are asking officials to take more steps to make greenways safer. There have been at least four incidents or assaults on Charlotte greenways reported in the last two months.
There are more than 70 miles of greenway trails across Mecklenburg County. The paths serve as a recreational connector where people bike, walk and run. Safety is a continued concern as sexual assaults and indecent exposure reports have become common.
17-year-old arrested in fatal shooting of 21-year-old in South End: CMPD
Lisa Landrum and Jesús De La Torre from Run CLT Run spoke at the Charlotte City Council meeting Monday night asking leaders to prioritize greenway safety.
“I’m one of those runners who has seen continuous improving more police officers on our greenways trying to keep us all safe,” Landrum said.
The runners are asking for cameras along the greenway. Last fall, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation installed 911 location signs on greenway mile markers.
“The events that take place are a reminder why we need to keep talking about it,” De La Torre said. “Since the last time I was here about two months ago there have been at least four incidents or attacks on the greenway, all of which were reported to police officers.”
The Park and Recreation department manages and primarily funds the greenways. They provided the following statement on safety:
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation continues to work with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies on greenway safety.
Additionally, Park and Recreation has cameras installed at trailhead parking lots. Park and Recreation does not install cameras on greenways because greenways are mostly located in floodplains. It is Park and Recreation’s common practice to light culverts and/or tunnels along these facilities.
To help users identify their location to 911 in the event of an emergency, and to quicken the response time of emergency services, Park and Recreation continues to install location signs on greenway mile markers (located at every one-quarter mile), and on address signs at neighborhood exits. When they dial 911, a caller should be prepared to share the greenway name, and the closest mile marker or the address of the nearest neighborhood exit. The signs are being added to existing greenways through 2024. They will also be features of future greenway
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation
Mount Holly city leaders recently approved the installation of five cameras as an additional security mechanism at its greenway. Officials there hope to install the devices before the end of the spring season.
Runners in Charlotte hope city and county officials will make moves to add similar measures in the Queen City.
“With warmer weather rolling in there’s a chance of increased first time users on the greenway and with that people who have to use it high school cross country teams that may not be cognizant of the greenway system and safety needs for that,” De La Torre said.
Run CLT Run has a webpage where they have a list of safety measures greenway users can follow to help them stay safe.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
