A WFAE/Charlotte Ledger investigation published Thursday, Oct. 8, found 12 violent crimes reported on or near Mecklenburg County greenways since January 2023. The incidents ranged from armed robbery to sexual assault, and the investigation highlighted gaps in lighting, cameras and law enforcement along the expanding trail system.

The trails have no cameras.

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation told the Ledger it has cameras at trailhead parking lots but not along the greenways, because the paths run primarily through floodplains. The county lights culverts and tunnels, but the trails themselves are not generally lit. Park rangers patrol the system but are not sworn law enforcement officers; when a crime occurs, they must call local police.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department did not respond to the Ledger's inquiries about how officers patrol greenways, the investigation reported. CMPD's 2026 midyear report shows violent crime citywide down 8%, though the report does not break out greenway-specific data.

What it means for Ballantyne

Ballantyne residents use a trail network that ties into the same county greenway system. The Lower McAlpine Creek and McMullen Creek network runs 7.3 miles through south Charlotte, from N.C. 51 to Johnston Road and Rea Road, according to Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. The Ballantyne Greenway, a 2-mile trail, branches off from Lower McAlpine Creek Greenway and circles through Stream Park and past TD Amp Ballantyne. In all, Ballantyne is home to more than 20 miles of walking paths connecting to the broader county system.

The Ledger investigation described an attempted rape on McAlpine Creek Greenway approximately four years ago, at 11 a.m. on a weekday. McAlpine Creek Greenway is the trunk trail from which the Ballantyne Greenway branches, though the investigation did not specify where along the multi-mile trail the incident occurred.

Women walk together for safety

Some Charlotte women have responded to safety concerns by walking in groups. Dorothy Hart, 34, a walk lead for Charlotte Girls Who Walk, told the Ledger that many women in the group have been followed, catcalled or made uncomfortable while walking alone.

"We have women in the group that wanted to feel safe, and they found the group, and they've been so happy to have that outlet now, where they feel like they can walk safely in a group," Hart told the Ledger.

Charlotte Girls Who Walk welcomes women from their 20s to 50s, and walks draw 10 to 50 participants. Hart said she has always felt safe on greenways in a group, though some runners carry pepper spray. She also said the greenways need more lighting.

The county advises all greenway users to walk, run or bike with others and to avoid wearing headphones in both ears. Mile markers appear every quarter-mile along trails with location information users can relay to 911 dispatchers in an emergency.