Chaula Jain built her Ballantyne neighbors a free Google Map of Mecklenburg County's greenway trails.
Jain works as a database administrator for the county's Geospatial Information Services (GIS) division. She translated county GIS data into a Google Map marking trailheads, parking areas and restrooms, Axios Charlotte first reported on Oct. 9.
"Google Maps is easier for people to use," Jain told Axios Charlotte.
The map covers a growing network. Mecklenburg County counted 85.5 miles of greenway trails as of March 2026, according to the county's parks department. That total has grown by more than 20 miles in just a few years, and greenways are the No. 1 requested amenity among county residents, the parks department told the Charlotte Ledger.
For Ballantyne, the trail system runs right through the neighborhood. A 7.3-mile network stretches through south Charlotte from Hwy. 51 to Johnston Road and Rea Road, according to county parks data. That network includes the Lower McAlpine, McMullen Creek and Four Mile Creek greenways, plus the Ballantyne Connector Trail to Ballantyne Corporate Place.
Jain knows those trails well.
She and her husband, Jitendra Jain, lead a walking group called Forest Bathing that has met every weekend for more than nine years, according to Axios Charlotte. The group covers about five to six miles each outing and is open to anyone. Forest Bathing meets Saturday mornings at 7:30 a.m. during the summer and shifts to 8:30 a.m. after Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, Nov. 1. The starting point changes weekly.
Residents interested in joining can email Jain at [email protected].
What's ahead
- Saturday mornings: Forest Bathing meets weekly. Email [email protected] for the week's starting location.
- Sunday, Nov. 1: Daylight Saving Time ends; Forest Bathing shifts to 8:30 a.m. start times.
