Spartanburg to Witness a 20-mile Expansion of its Trail System in Four Years

Brace yourself Spartanburg, over the next four years, your city will undergo a significant transformation with an additional 20 miles of trail network. This ambitious plan set forth by Spartanburg PAL (Play. Advocate. Live well.) aims to enhance the city’s recreational, transportation, and social amenities.

A Web of Trails

The trail network, known as the Daniel Morgan Trail System, presently features 24 miles of scenic trails. However, these trails are not fully interconnected. PAL’s goal is to develop an additional 20 miles of trails within four years and another 20 miles on the pipelines. Once achieved, Spartanburg will boast a web-like network of trails, interlinking various parts of the city.

Moreover, PAL and partner organizations intend to acquire the Saluda Grade Rail Line to develop a unique, 30-mile trail that extends from Inman to the scenic Blue Ridge Mountain town of Zirconia, North Carolina. This ambitious project aims to connect downtown Spartanburg to the serene Milliken Arboretum, from where the trail will run to Lawson’s Fork Creek and henceforth to Inman, ultimately providing a trail connection from Spartanburg to North Carolina.

Saluda Grade Rail Trail

The Saluda Grade Trails Conservancy, a conglomerate of nonprofits including PAL, Upstate Forever and Conserving Carolina, announced on August 5 that they were under contract to purchase the historic railroad line from Norfolk Southern. This 31-mile railroad line will serve as a multi-use trail for running, walking, and biking enthusiasts. Construction of the trail will be carried out in phases, with timelines and scope depending considerably on funding availability.

Duncan Park and Fairforest Creek Expansion

As part of the expansion plans, PAL received a $23.8 million federal grant in 2021 to fund the completion of the Fairforest Creek section of the trail, spanning 8½ miles from the Mayfair Mill Lofts to the CC Woodson Community Center. Construction for this segment is anticipated to commence by January 2025. Furthermore, a junction between the Fairforest Creek trail and Duncan Park is in talks, facilitating contiguous connectivity to downtown from the Fairforest Creek trail.

Hub City Hopper and Beaumont Mill Village

Coming Fall 2022, PAL is set to kickstart its 1.6-mile extension project of the Hub City Hopper along East Daniel Morgan Avenue, aiming to link downtown to the historic Beaumont Mill Village, Drayton Mills, and the River Birch Trail.

Country Club Road

A yet another substantial project under construction is the Trolley Line Trail along Country Club Road. Managed by the S.C. Department of Transportation, this 3.3-mile trail will link the 1.9-mile Mary Black Rail to Glendale Shoals by May 2025. Upon its completion, PAL plans to extend the trail by 4 miles, through Spartanburg’s new nature preserve to Clifton Beach.

Once all these ambitious projects materialize, the city of Spartanburg will enjoy the benefits of an extensive, interconnected trail system, linking locales as far away as downtown, Drayton Mills, Mayfair Lofts, Croft State Park, and Clifton Beach.

To learn more about The Dan and find an interactive map of the DAN trails, please visit the official website. Stay tuned with HERE News Network for more updates.

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