RCC, Duke Energy reestablish campus trails
Apr 15, 2025
More than 75 people attended a ribbon-cutting on March 27 at Rockingham Community College to celebrate improvements to the system of nature trails on campus.
Dr. Mark Kinlaw, the college’s recently retired president, returned to the campus to help dedicate the system as Duke Energy Trails at RCC, recognizing a re-purposing of funds given eight years ago by the energy utility.
In 2024 – the 50th anniversary of the campus trails – a major restoration project began. Work included additional improvements to the three trails, such as new bridges, signage, kiosks, and sitework to make the trails easier to walk. The 3+ miles of trails have now been re-opened to the public.
RCC can be more than just a place of instruction, Dr. Kinlaw said. “It can also be a source of outdoor recreation for our community. We have a really nice baseball facility, two soccer fields, a paved walking track, an outdoor exercise area, six resurfaced tennis courts, and beautiful trails.”
In 2017, the energy utility gave the college funds to implement the Duke Energy TRAILS (Trail Recreation and Adventure Institute for Leadership and Service) program. After offering continuing education classes that highlighted trail design, building, and maintenance, Dr. Kinlaw asked Duke about shifting the remaining funds to improving and maintaining the college’s trails.
Duke was supportive of the idea.
“The purpose [of the money] was not so much the ‘what,’ but to make sure we have a legacy to leave the College for Duke Energy to invest in and to continue to be a great partner,” said Hank Henning, Duke Energy’s district manager for government and community relations.
“We have two power plants in this county and one right across [Belews Lake]. We have a pretty big investment here ourselves, and we want to want to see this community grow and certainly be a part of it.”
RCC’s nature trails were developed in 1974, with science faculty members Robert Futrell and John Crutchfield among those leading the initiative. Following some deterioration, the trails were restored in 2012-13, thanks to a grant from the Reidsville Area Foundation and a partnership between RCC and the Dan River Basin Association. Additional trail work was done by students in the Duke Energy TRAILS program.
RCC’s system is comprised of three trails. Trailheads with informational kiosks are located at each end of the Woodlands Trail – in the parking lot of the Bishopric Lifelong Learning Center, and in the parking lot across from the Science Building. The Cascades Trail, which brings hikers past a waterfall, is connected to the Woodlands Trail, a half mile from the Bishopric trailhead. The third trail is the Campus Loop, with a trailhead in the northern end of the Whitcomb Student Center parking lot.
To design the trails renovation, RCC selected Destination by Design. Tim Johnson, the group’s director of Outdoor Recreation Planning, was involved from the very beginning with the development of the TRAILS programs at RCC.
“As TRAILS program director, I taught continuing education classes that covered a variety of subjects such as trail design and layout, construction, maintenance and management,” Johnson said. “Over 200 students from across the United States, including parks and recreation professionals, local, state and federal government land managers, college students, land owners, and many others learned about trails and used this trail system as an outdoor classroom.”
For this project, contractor Benchmark Trails connected trail segments that were designed and constructed by former RCC TRAILS program students, and enhanced existing segments to provide a better experience for trail users, he said. About 1.5 miles of new trails were constructed, and 1.5 miles were improved.
“We built 14 stone steps, six box steps, two new bridges, and an overlook deck at the cascades,” Johnson said. “Freeman Woodcrafters, located in Eden, constructed kiosks and installed metalwork and a map on the trail shelter on the east side of campus.
“The goal of Duke Energy Trails at RCC is to provide an outstanding trail experience for people of all ages and abilities and with approximately 3 miles of trail split between two distinct experiences. We hope that the trail system will offer something for everyone,” Johnson said.
Following the ribbon cutting, attendees were invited on trail walks with RCC Public Services Librarian Blaine Henderson and Assistant Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Aaron Bowman.
The 3.65 miles of Duke Energy Trails at RCC are open to the public during daylight hours.
For more information about the Duke Energy Trails at RCC, visit https://rockinghamcc.edu/duke-energy-trails-at-rcc/. Brochures containing the map of the trails are available at RCC’s Administration Building, 215 Wrenn Memorial Road.
Story by Gerri Hunt/Photos by Randy Hunt
