On most days, the Mary Black Foundation’s Rail Trail between Union and South Pine streets in Spartanburg is alive with pedestrians, pets and cyclists.
In less than a decade, the 2-mile paved path has become one of the most heavily trafficked recreation destinations in the community.
But officials said a vision for a well-connected trail system incorporating other popular footpaths in the city could be realized within the next few years, creating new opportunities for local residents, visitors and businesses.
The $22 million project seeks to add 21 miles of new trail to an existing network of about 12 miles that encompass the rail trail, the Cottonwood Trail, Glendale Shoals Preserve, Drayton Mills Trail and Wadsworth Trail. A portion of the new trail system will pass through downtown Spartanburg.
About $12 million has already been raised, including $10 million from the Federal Highway Trust Fund and $2 million committed by a variety of other sources. Planners will soon begin raising the remaining $10 million.
City Council on Oct. 24 approved an agreement with the Spartanburg-based nonprofit Partners for Active Living (PAL) for the development of a nearly $1 million, 7-acre community park near the rail trail between Forest Avenue and Country Club Road.
Upstate Business Journal caught up with PAL Executive Director Laura Ringo and Trails Coordinator Ned Barrett to gain some insight into the unified trails plan.
Path to Success
Ringo: The success of the [Greenville Health System] Swamp Rabbit Trail has been remarkable. … In 2009, we commissioned a Furman University study that showed the Mary Black Rail Trail had 25,000 annual uses. In 2012, we found that number had increased to 65,000 uses. Clearly, there is a need and a demand for trails in Spartanburg.
Play Desert
Ringo: We raised $1 million to work with the city to develop the park [near the end of the rail trail] on what was an underused piece of property. … There are a lot of parks across the city, but we found out that this was also a play desert. We really wanted to bring some new excitement to the rail trail. Unlike other parks, this one will really be focused on the older youth. There just aren’t many opportunities for them. … We really want this to truly be a recreation corridor.
Scaling It Back
Ringo: A couple of years ago, we hired a consultant [to produce a connected trails plan for Spartanburg]. He came up with 120 miles of trail. We were blown away, but we really had to take a step back and say, “What is realistic?”
Facing Challenges
Ringo: [For the rail trail] we had 2 miles of abandoned rail. Now, we are working with a lot of private property owners. … But we’ve been very fortunate so far. The support from the community has been great.
Barrett: The timing is right. There is a lot of momentum in Spartanburg. We’ve shown that there is demand for recreation. [Trails have] become such an important part of the conversation.
Economic Prospects
Ringo: The enthusiasm [among businesses] is varied based on their proximity to the trail. We’ve had several businesses along the rail trail really embrace it. I think as the system expands, we’ll see more interest.
Barrett: We’ve seen a number of companies become interested in the trails as part of their healthy initiatives and employee quality of life, as well as recruiting. You’ll see a lot of people walking on their lunch breaks. … There is a lot of potential for trails to impact economic development in the future.
Green and Blue
Ringo: One of the great things about [the connected trails plan] is the way it will connect our greenways and our blueways. Spartanburg has a variety of streams that offer opportunities for recreation. In most cases the trails run alongside the waterways. We’ve been looking at ways to incorporate both. There are truly some beautiful places in Spartanburg that most people don’t even know exist.
Moving Forward
Ringo: Very soon we will have a big funding announcement. We will also be rolling out a name and brand for the system. It will focus on this being a collaborative effort and pushing forward together.
Spartanburg Unified Trails Plan
Tentative construction timeline (pending funding and property owner agreement):
Now through June 2017 (4 miles)
East: Glendale to Lake Forest on Lawson’s Fork (1.64)
East: River Birch to East Main Street (0.5)
East: Beverly Road, Lower Drayton (1.5) *Complete*
Middle: Rail Trail to Chapman Center (.5)
July 2017 through June 2018 (5 miles)
East: East Main Street to Heywood Avenue to Beverly Road (0.75)
East: Cottonwood to Rail Trail on-road connector (1)
Middle: Through Northside (0.75)
Middle: Wofford Street and Vanderbilt Road along Fairforest Creek (2.25)
