In March of 2009, the Board of County Commissioners adopted the Carolina Thread Trail Master Plan for Gaston County. The Thread Trail is a proposed regional network of greenways and trails that extends through 15 counties. As a regional system, the Carolina Thread Trail will link many areas of Gaston County. The Planning Department in conjunction with the Parks and Recreation Department is planning a system of smaller local trails and greenways that will connect the Thread Trail to other points of interest within the county.