Catawba County has adopted a new roadmap for its park system. The Board of Commissioners approved the 2026 to 2036 Parks Master Plan on September 21, 2026, and the County published a public summary on October 15. The plan is intended to guide stewardship, visitor experience and future investment across the next decade.
The important distinction is between a plan and a project. Adoption establishes priorities and a framework for future decisions. It does not mean that every recommendation has funding, a construction schedule or final approval. Residents and relocating buyers can use the plan to understand direction while relying on current County pages for what exists today.
What the County reviewed
The planning process assessed the County's four parks, 1,494 acres of parkland and 44.64 miles of trails, along with amenities, operations and services. The County says residents, park users, staff, leadership, conservation organizations and regional partners contributed feedback.
Five priorities for the next decade
- Trail expansion and greenway connectivity
- Nature-based recreation
- Outdoor and environmental education
- Accessibility and inclusive recreation
- Land conservation and stewardship
Those priorities describe the direction of the adopted plan. They should not be rewritten as promises about a particular trail, amenity, parcel or completion date.
The current four park system
Park | Current County published snapshot |
|---|---|
Bakers Mountain | 6680 Bakers Mountain Road in Hickory 189 acres at 1,780 feet with nearly 4.5 miles of trails |
Mountain Creek | 6554 Little Mountain Road in Sherrills Ford 606 acres with a 19.52-mile multi-use trail network and lake access amenities |
Riverbend | 6700 North NC Highway 16 in Conover 690 acres with 1.25 miles of river shoreline and 19.7 miles of trails |
St Stephens | 2247 36th Avenue Northeast in Hickory 9 acres with a short wooded loop, paved literacy trail, playground and dog park |
What adoption does and does not mean
The plan organizes recommendations into short-term, near-term and long-term time frames and identifies possible partners and funding sources. The County states that individual recommendations will move forward as funding, partnerships and other resources become available. Until a separate County announcement identifies a funded project, location, scope and schedule, the accurate description is that the item remains a recommendation in the adopted roadmap.
How residents can use the plan
- Read the County summary first, then open the full plan for the supporting maps, findings and implementation framework.
- Use current park pages for addresses, amenities, rules, trail maps, reservations and closure information.
- Follow Board agendas, minutes and County news for later funding, partnership or project decisions.
- Comment on a future proposal using its actual scope and public record rather than a generalized social post.
How relocating buyers should use the information
A parks plan can help a buyer understand community priorities, but it should not be used to market a future amenity as certain. Map today's parks to the actual property address, test the route at the time the household expects to travel and verify the activities that matter. Treat every future improvement as proposed until the County publishes a funded and approved implementation decision.
Current seasonal hours
The County currently lists all four parks as open seven days a week. October hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Beginning November 1, the listed hours shift to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through February. The parks are listed as closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve and Day. Hours and operating conditions can change, so check the live County page before leaving.
Dated answers to common questions
- Was the plan adopted Yes The Board adopted it on September 21, 2026.
- How many County parks are included Four Bakers Mountain, Mountain Creek, Riverbend and St Stephens.
- Is admission currently charged The County fee page lists admission at no charge for all four parks.
- Are all recommendations funded No The County says implementation depends on funding, partnerships and other resources.
- Where should residents follow changes County news, Board records and the live Catawba County Parks pages.
Use the current system while following what comes next
The new plan gives residents a useful view of long-range direction. For a weekend visit, rely on the current park page. For a future project, rely on the later public decision that identifies funding and scope. Osborne Real Estate Group will continue tracking both so clients can separate today's amenities from tomorrow's possibilities.
