Spartanburg Trails Reopen After Flood Damages From Storm Helene
In a spirited community effort, most of the local trails in Spartanburg that were severely damaged by Storm Helene last month have reopened. Nearly a month’s tireless work went into the restoration process after Helene took a toll on our green spaces, with significant flooding and tree damage.
Volunteers in Action
Our local heroes – volunteers have been continually striving to clear debris from many trails, including Cottonwood Trail and Mary H. Wright Greenway. Lawsons Fork Creek, which runs along beside the Cottonwood Trail, had swelled up due to torrential rains, causing serious erosion and washing away significant chunks of the trail.
All hands are on deck as they work relentlessly to remove debris and repair damages. On October 15th, volunteers dedicated time to clearing significant tree debris on the Mary H. Wright Greenway. The community has initiated multiple volunteer work days throughout the city, including Duncan Park, to expedite debris clearance.
Significant Damage
“Our trails were hit pretty hard with tree damage,” said Laura Ringo, executive director of Play. Advocate. Live Well!. The trails sustained extensive water damage, especially the River Birch Trail and Lower Drayton Trail. Unlike previous storms, which mostly resulted in flooding, Storm Helene toppled numerous trees, leaving a trail of destruction.
Asphalt was ripped away from several trails, and unfortunate flooding led to the benches along the River Birch Trail being washed away. “It was much worse this time than what we have experienced in the past,” Laura added.
Future Plans
While most trails have reopened; there is still an abundance of debris to be removed. Ringo assures that work continues to restore all trails and they will be cleared of debris in the coming weeks. The Spartanburg Area Conservancy lavishly deserves a shout-out here as they have been critical in the effort, working hand in hand with the volunteers.
“We got hammered pretty bad by the storm,” said Sam Parrott, SPACE executive director, “There’s been an amazing community effort to clear the trails with more than 150 volunteers helping us last week.”
Cottonwood Trail is now operational, but, understandably, it’s at your own discretion. “We are working hard to get sections open,” Parrott assured. Flood damage shut down the bridge at Cottonwood Trail crossing Lawsons Fork, as it was deemed unsafe. In the upcoming weeks, repair work will commence on sections of the Cottonwood Trail, and some segments will be rerouted.
Alongside the recovery of our trails, the city’s efforts are also focusing on removing the vast amounts of storm debris collected by residents on side roads. It is projected that it will take several more weeks for city crews to pick up all the curbside debris.
We came together as a community during trying times and it’s wonderful to witness the unity and love that Spartanburg has shown. So next time you take a stroll on our trails, take a moment to appreciate the effort and hard work that went into their restoration. They stand as a testament to our resilience and our love for our city.
