Gaston County has snapped up roughly 562 acres of woods and shoreline near Lake Wylie, a stretch locals know as the Catawba Cove property, locking in one of the largest undeveloped tracts still left near the Charlotte metro. County leaders and conservation partners say the land will be permanently protected and turned into a public park with trails and lake access, preserving floodplains, wetlands and habitat used by osprey and bald eagles. Neighbors who spent years bracing for housing sprawl are treating the deal as a rare, clear-cut win for conservation.
Belmont resident Robin Owens called the county’s purchase “answered prayers” after years of worry about development, she told WBTV. The station reports the land was previously owned by Duke Energy and that the county acquired the tract with help from conservation partners. County officials have described the property as one of the largest undeveloped parcels near a major city in North Carolina and say it will be managed for public recreation over time.
How the deal came together
The acquisition traces back to a coordinated conservation push. North Carolina Land and Water Fund records list a $1.2 million award to The Conservation Fund for a “Catawba Cove” project in 2020, supporting what would eventually become the county purchase. The county’s FY2022 capital plan also set aside money for a “Catawba Cove Property Acquisition,” noting an intent to buy roughly 557 acres from Duke Ventures in partnership with The Conservation Fund, according to the Gaston County FY2022 budget. Those grants and public filings helped structure a deal that leaves most of the tract under permanent easements held by conservation partners.
Trails, access and wildlife
Officials expect the future park to offer about six miles of public trails, with some segments folded into the Carolina Thread Trail and a link to the 23 mile Matthews-Belk South Fork River corridor that connects Daniel Stowe Conservancy and Spencer Mountain, according to Catawba Lands Conservancy board materials. Protecting the property keeps key floodplains and wetlands in place to help filter stormwater and preserves important nesting habitat for birds and other wildlife, conservation groups said. The same board documents show Catawba Lands Conservancy has been involved in planning and in holding conservation easements that are intended to keep the land protected for the long haul.
What comes next
Gaston County Parks & Recreation will lead planning for trails and limited visitor amenities, including parking, restrooms and a small visitors area, while stewardship partners focus on habitat protection, in line with the county capital plan. No public opening date has been announced, and officials say trail building and site design will be phased so that sensitive wetlands and nesting areas stay intact. For neighbors who have watched the woods at the foot of Spencer Mountain for years, the purchase already feels like proof that growth does not always have to mean another subdivision sign going up.
