Above The Mud
Promoting Small-Town Economic Development • Creating Safe Connections • Strengthening Flood Resiliency
The Above the Mud project — named for nearby Mud Creek — will create connections, promote small-town economic development, and strengthen natural disaster resiliency through the provision of a 2-mile loop of safe and convenient multimodal infrastructure that will boost small-town and rural activity, jobs, and tourism. Each project component focuses on expanding safe and accessible pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, improving public safety, and boosting Hendersonville’s status as a regional economic and tourism hub.
Key Details:
- Project Location: Hendersonville, NC
- Type: Designated as urban, but a rural, small town
- Project Length: 2 miles
- Grand Administration: NCDOT in partnership with the City of Hendersonville
- Estimated Completion Date: 2029
Project Goals:
- Create Safe Connections
- Revitalize Local Businesses
- Strengthen Resiliency
79% of the project area is within a Historically Disadvantaged Community
17% of the project area is within an Area of Persistent Poverty
Project Map
Application Documents
Community Engagement
The project is supported by over a decade of previous planning efforts, studies, and public engagement showing strong technical feasibility and public support.
The residents of Henderson County have been continually engaged with this project since 2018, with engagement for the Oklawaha Greenway component starting back in 2012. The project components have been included in plans and studies which engaged the public broadly, as well as key stakeholders such as local business owners and advocacy groups. The thoroughness of these public engagement efforts ensures each project component will deliver the greatest benefit to the community.
Over 580 residents were engaged with this grant process, with the overwhelming majority in support. Strong public support for each project component is documented by the Above the Mud Trail Feasibility Study (2024), 7th Avenue Design (2018-ongoing), the City of Hendersonville’s Parks and Greenspace Plan (2024), City of Hendersonville Gen H 2045 Comprehensive Plan, Walk Hendo Pedestrian Plan (2023), and public engagement in preparation for the 2022 Reconnecting Communities grant application, and for this 2025 BUILD grant.
Letters of Support
Hendersonville City Council Resolution of Support
The project enjoys widespread community buy-in, with 52 governments and organizations contributing letters of support.
Supporting Plans & Studies
- French Broad River MPO’s Metropolitan Transportation Plan (2016)
- Hendersonville “Gen H” Comprehensive Plan (2024)
- Above the Mud Greenway Feasibility Study (2024)
- Parks & Greenspace Master Plan (2024)
- Hendersonville Sustainability Strategic Plan (2024)
- Hendersonville “Walk Hendo” Pedestrian Plan (2023)
- Oklawaha Greenway Feasibility Study (2022)
- Hendersonville Bicycle Plan (2017)
- French Broad Hellbender Regional Trail System Plan (2020)
- Great Trails State System Plan (2022)
- Ecusta Rail Trail Planning Study and Economic Impact Analysis (2012)
The Above the Mud FY 2025 BUILD Grant Application is submitted by the City of Hendersonville in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Henderson County, Blue Ridge Bicycle Club, Friends of Ecusta Trail, and the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization.
