JOURNAL COMMUNITY
The trail goes on APRIL A. MORRIS | STAFF
amorris@communityjournals.com
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County Rec plans nearly 5-mile phase of GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail
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The Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail is set to grow again. After the transfer of a right of way from the Greenville County Economic Development Corporation (GCEDC) to Greenville County Recreation, the rail-to-trail bikeway can expand nearly five miles, connecting downtown Greenville to Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). In 1999, GCEDC purchased an abandoned railroad right of way that runs 4.7 miles behind Laurens Road from Pleasantburg Drive to the CU-ICAR campus. Nearby landowners have donated additional rights-of-way the county also intends to hand over to Greenville Rec, Greenville County Administrator Joe Kernell said at a recent County Council meeting. The trail expansion will follow the same scenario as the northern section, which opened in July, said Ty Houck, director of greenways, natural and historic resources for Greenville County Parks, Recreation and Tourism. The 1.2-mile addition just north of Travelers Rest was announced in March 2013 and completed as funds became available. Greenville Rec will be seeking creative ways to raise money to prepare the land and build the trail, Houck said. The department applied for a $23 million TIGER grant, which would fund construction of the section along with many other recreation improvements, and is waiting on word on whether it will be awarded for Upstate projects, he said.
276/Laurens Road
We proudly announce our newest Sales Associate, Courtney Worley. Spartanburg is her hometown, but the Augusta Road Area is her home. Courtney has specialized in sales and client relationships ever since she earned her degree in International Studies & Business from Baylor.
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AugustaRoad.com Realty is
GROWING! again
This stretch of trail crosses multiple major streets such as Woodruff and Haywood roads and touches dense residential and retail areas, Houck said. Verdae Development announced this spring its acquisition of the former Sam’s Club property and Best Buy site on Laurens Road adjacent to the rail bed as part of a new, 100-acre redevelopment project. Developers plan to connect the Verdae development to the new Swamp Rabbit Trail extension. Downtown Greenville Jetport The trail could go even further. Houck said, “We hope to grow to Mauldin and Fountain Inn,” noting that many commuters come into work in Greenville from those cities. Fountain Inn recently self-financed a 1.3Airport Roa d mile section of the trail in the city. d oa The stretch of trail along LaudR o o rens Road is ripe for multi-use yw Ha development that could feature places for citizens to live, shop, dine and work, said Greenville County Councilman Fred Payne, who is an advocate of using the rail corridor for more than just Woodruff Road bicycle transportation. The corridor offers other opportunities for development adjacent to the rail bed in addition to the properties where the vacant big-box stores stood – among them, the vacant former state Department of Motor Vehicles and SC Highway Patrol buildings, on approximately 10 acres near the intersection of Pleasantburg Drive, Laurens Road and Airport Road.
Verdae Blvd
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Courtney Worley REALTOR, Sales Associate, Buyers and Sellers
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18 THE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 5, 2014
Millennium Blvd