Work is underway on Phase Two of Innovation Quarter. Infrastructure work is expected to be complete late fall, but Long Branch Trail is still open to the public. You may encounter a few detour signs that will redirect you along the construction area.
With temperatures warming up, the 1.7-mile trail is one you can check out from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The paved landscape runs from Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, through Innovation Quarter, under Business 40, to Salem Creek Greenway. For those who like going the extra mile, you can access the 20-mile loop from the north end of the Innovation Quarter around Salem Lake and back.
A route towards connection
The city created Long Branch Trail as an effort to increase connectivity + promote wellness in the community, providing a higher quality of life for residents. The trail opened in 2018 with the goal of increasing walkability in the city. Along the trail, you can find benches, lighting, emergency call boxes, water fountains, and bike racks.
A path forward
Currently, Winston-Salem has an average walk score of 22 with the downtown area averaging a 79 out of 100 score. While a lot of improvements need to be made, the city is headed to the right direction. Other current projects to increase walkability such as the Salem Parkway Multi-use Path West + the redesigning of the Midtown Project.
Want to find out how you can get on the Long Branch Trail? Check out the map which shows various access points to the pathway.