Active transportation and recreation
Bearskin Creek Greenway Phase III & Creft Park Renovation
Bearskin Creek corridor from Don Griffin Park to Creft Park, Monroe, NC; Creft Park, Monroe, NC
Verified Project Information
Summary
The City of Monroe is extending the Bearskin Creek Greenway approximately 0.4 miles from Don Griffin Park to Creft Park while renovating Creft Park with new recreation, accessibility, and park-support amenities.
Current stage: Under construction.
Current condition: Active.
Key Facts
Estimated Cost
$1.90 million
as of 2023-04-25
Latest Progress
2026-01-12: The City reported that Creft Park closed for approximately three months as construction got underway on the Bearskin Creek Greenway and improvements within the park; the playground, softball field, and picnic shelter were temporarily unavailable.
Project Leaders
City of Monroe
Project owner, Project sponsor
North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
Project sponsor
Project Funding
Funding type: Public · Status: Allocated
North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources: $500,000 (2023)
City of Monroe: $500,000 (2023)
Timeline
Construction begins and Creft Park closes
The City reported that Creft Park closed for approximately three months as construction got underway on the Bearskin Creek Greenway and improvements within the park; the playground, softball field, and picnic shelter were temporarily unavailable.
Stage after event: Under constructionConstruction bids close for combined improvements
The public bid record lists November 20, 2025 as the submission deadline for Bearskin Creek Greenway and Creft Park Improvements and describes trail, playground, paving, drainage, and related site work.
Stage after event: Funded or programmedCity updates construction budget estimate
A City budget work-session document listed a $1,507,437 total construction budget estimate, including $940,692 for Creft Park, $479,625 for the greenway, and $87,120 for a culvert. This construction-budget figure is not treated as interchangeable with the earlier probable total project budget.
Stage after event: Funded or programmedPARTF matching grant awarded
The City announced a $500,000 North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant for the Bearskin Creek Greenway Phase III and Creft Park renovation, with City matching funds available through the greenway reserve fund.
Stage after event: Funded or programmedCity adopts combined master plan and grant commitment
Monroe City Council adopted the Creft Park/Bearskin Creek Greenway Phase III master plan and authorized a PARTF grant application, including a City commitment of at least $500,000 toward the estimated $1,000,000 grant-match project.
Stage after event: Planning or feasibility
Geography
Project site / location
- Monroe, NC
- Union County, NC
Affected / impact geography
- Monroe, NC
- Union County, NC
Map
ExactApproximate
Solid geometry is exact. Dotted geometry and dotted-outline markers are approximate. Multiple markers may show independently verified locations; they are not connected and do not establish a route or alignment.
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Government Sources
- Primary
- Primary
- Supporting
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- Supporting
Media Coverage
WSOC-TV · 2026-01-14
Creft Park in Monroe to undergo monthslong renovation (opens original source in a new tab)
WSOC reports that Creft Park closed for months while crews built the Bearskin Creek Greenway and renovated the park, with the playground, softball field, and picnic shelter unavailable for about three months.