“I think the biggest thing is for tourism,” said Mike Green before the presentation by the North Carolina chapter of the American Planning Association. “I appreciate everyone supporting the canal trail.”

Green, chairman of the canal commission, said, “The canal trail is a treasure. We need to protect it for future generations.”

The canal trail won best greenway in a popular voting contest sponsored by the APA and won in a landslide. “For us to be such a small community, we really came together. It was an overwhelming victory.”

Randall Spence, cultural resources leader for the city, who also oversees the Canal Museum, said, “People all over the community showed their support. We'd like to send out a huge thanks to everyone. We were up against a lot of bigger cities.”

Roger Lentz, who serves on the National APA Board of Directors, said, “It's a wonderful trail you have here.”

Some 40,000 people voted in the contest, he said. “It's a wonderful piece of history in North Carolina.”

City Councilwoman Suetta Scarbrough thanked the some 400 people who ran the half-marathon and those who supported the trail.

City Planning and Development Director Kelly Lasky said plans will be developed on how to use the designation in marketing the city. “This race is a great opportunity to draw folks out here.”