In 2006, Charlotte’s Little Sugar Creek was the most polluted stream in North Carolina. Now, it’s part of a beloved urban park.

The Charlotte Observer labeled the transformation as “a sweet resurrection.”

So how did it begin? With an ambitious stream restoration and greenway project led by Crystal Taylor-Goode, the Lead Project Manager for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services.

On Wednesday afternoon, Taylor-Goode will be the guest speaker at the Chapel Hill Public Library for a forum presented by the Chapel Hill Alliance for a Livable Town. The discussion begins at 5:30 inside Meeting Room A.

Taylor-Goode will describe the history of the Little Sugar Creek restoration, including the factors that contributed to its success and lessons learned.

Little Sugar Creek had been covered in places with asphalt, concrete, even a shopping mall. In 2008, Taylor-Goode’s group began removing asphalt from the creek.

Last summer, the Mecklenburg County Commissioners approved a $4 million contract to construction firm Onsite Development that will connect the greenway to parks and trials over the South Carolina border.

CHALT hopes that Chapel Hill can learn from Charlotte’s lead in regards to Booker Creek.

“In the 1950s and 60s, when developers needed a flat area to build a shopping center or a parking lot, often you would find those in flood plains,” said CHALT’s David Schwartz. “They would just pave it over. It seems crazy now, but they would do that in Charlotte and they did it in Chapel Hill.”

Schwartz spoke with WCHL’s Aaron Keck.

 

Booker Creek runs underneath the parking lot at Eastgate Shopping Center. CHALT has long discussed restoring the creek.

“We’ve looked at returning what has been a neglected segment of that creek into a community amenity, into more of a park-like focus,” said Schwartz. “It would help with commercial revitalization in the area and would be a destination where become could enjoy a greener oasis in the midst of what is a largely paved over part of town.”

For a long time, CHALT has had its eye on a stream of Booker Creek that reemerges just south of the shopping center. Schwartz feels the election of Pam Hemminger as mayor boosts their hopes.

“She has made this her priority,” said Schwartz. “Now we’re actually starting to see some action. People are starting to think what they can really do to make that area the central focus for that district.”

So what can go in there? Boardwalks?

Schwartz isn’t sure.

“It has to be something that’s consistent,” said Schwartz. “Something that’s compatible with the fact that periodically, that area floods. But we don’t have to stop there. We can also think about restoring that area of the stream that goes under Eastgate. It wouldn’t involve moving the asphalt or concrete that currently covers it.”

Eastgate is privately owned. Any potential changes would have to be agreed to by ownership.