The city will be recognized March 18 at the North Carolina League of Municipalities Town Hall Day, which will be held in the press room of Legislative Building located at 16 West Jones Street.

That ceremony will begin at 9:20 a.m.

A local ceremony is in the works, City Manager Joseph Scherer said recently, and is expected to be held in concert with the Roanoke Canal Half Marathon, which will be held in June this year.

Additionally, a Great Places session is planned at the annual American Planning Association's Conference in Raleigh, which will be held October 21 through 23.

In the official press release announcing the trail's victory, the association said, “Great greenways are invaluable assets to a community. Citizens in Roanoke Rapids know this too well as the Roanoke Canal Trail is regularly used by hikers, runners, and cyclists. Roanoke Rapids’ Roanoke Canal Trail is now recognized by voters as a Great Greenway in the people’s choice category of the Great Places in North Carolina awards program.”

This was the fourth year that the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association has sponsored this program, designed to bring recognition to great places across the state.

The Roanoke Canal Trail was the top vote getter, winning over five other finalists.

The trail is a remnant of historic navigation designed to connect the Blue Ridge Mountains with Norfolk, and follows the original towpath for 7.2 miles connecting the Roanoke Rapids Lake Day Use Park and River Falls Park in Weldon.

"All of these great places represent excellent examples of community-based planning at its best," said John Morck, president of APA-NC. "Through this program, we celebrate great places in our state and the local partnerships that have worked collaboratively to make these places great."

In addition to being featured on the Great Places website and the APA's website, winners are provided marketing materials to use in their business and economic development efforts.