361 replies to this topic

[vicupstate]

Thanks for posting Rested Traveler.  I plan to be there.  This is a good chance for us Urbanites to put our backs where our typing fingers are.

[RestedTraveler]

No problem.

I look forward to seeing a great turnout, weather permitting.  This is a very worthwhile undertaking and I'm just trying to get the word out.

Edited by RestedTraveler, 02 June 2005 - 07:56 PM.

[vicupstate]

This was a lot of fun, and very rewarding.  There were about 60-70 people and the entire trail from downtown TR to Furman was cleared.  It had to be about 3.5-4 miles.  And  that was in just barely over 3 hours.  It's amazing how much can be accomplished with a lot of people involved.  I can't wait until it is exteded into Greenville.  

I noticed from some publications that were available, that work is underway on trails in Sburg and Oconee as well.

[Cap'n Prowler]

I am definitely going to have to get a bicycle after I move down. I wish I could've been there to help.

[vicupstate]

Rails to Trails gathering steam

Great news on the trails connecting Greenville Tech to downtown and TR to Downtown.   Once this is completed, it could be a very attractive amentiy to the entire county.  Greenville should extend this trail from TR to the state line and pick up the trail from Lake Conestee and go all the way to the Laurens County line via the Reedy River.

[Spartan]

Spartanburg has a few of these going on I believe. The one I am most familiar with is the old CSX line (i think) that parallels S Pine/Union St. The rails have been removed, and it actually looked like a trail for a while, but last time I looked it was overgrown.

Spartanburg has a large section of the Palmetto Trail that it is working to complete. Several sections are already done.

[RestedTraveler]

Yea - there's the Hub City Connector and the USC Upstate Passage that I know of.  I want to drive over one weekend and check these both out.

The Palmetto Conservation Foundation backed these projects as well.

The North Greenville Trail looks great, now!  The rails are still there (for now), but the weeds and overgrowth are mostly gone, thanks to volunteer efforts and some people with power tools (and a heavy duty limb shredder). There's a trail marker and a bench now adjacent to the trail along HWY-276 (across the highway from Sunrift) in T.R.  The trail is clear pretty much all the way to Furman from T.R. now.

[Spartan]

The Green part (on the map of the Hub City Connector) is the olf rail line that I was talking about. I did not realize it was actually a part of the Palmetto Trail. Cool

[vicupstate]

I received this email about two follow-up work days on the TR-Greenville trail.  I plan to make it Sat.  It really is rewarding to take part in.

Some of you joined us on June 4th for the first-ever "Volunteer Work Day" to clear vegetation from the Greenville & Northern Rail Road from Travelers Rest to Furman.  Others are on this list because you at some point shared your desire to help in that effort.

We have been informed that we will have two inmate crews from the Greenville Law Enforcement Center THIS WEEKEND -- Saturday, June 18 and again on Sunday 19th from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm each day.

While we had planned to wait some time for the next formal work day, with these crews and the expected great weather, this may be our best chance to clear all or a significant portion of the remaining line between Furman and downtown Greenville.  (A distance of less than 4 miles).

If you are available to join us on either or both days, would you please let me know by returned email so that we can estimate anticipated turn-out.

Our goal is to clear trees, shrubs and vines from the rail bed to arrest continued degradation of the line and to allow others in the community -- whether promoting use of the corridor for rail, tram or trail -- to be able to get a look at the wonderful asset owned by all of the citizens of Greenville County.  While a number of legal, safety and policy decisions remain before a determination will be made about future use of the line (perhaps as an interim trail), it is vitally important that we clear the line to protect the investment.

We hope you can and will join us on either Saturday and/or Sunday.

On Saturday we will meet on Duncan Chapel Road where the rail line exits the Furman Campus and heads south toward Greenville.  There is significant parking near the line on the Furman side of Duncan Chapel.  We will begin work at 9:00 am.  If you can only stay for a few hours, please come anyway.  We will end the formal work at 3:00 pm.

Bring your own water, insect repellant, gloves, tools (brush saws, hatchets, loppers, or weedeaters with metal heads or wire -- we will not be using chain saws for safety).   Given the insects and briars we recommend long pants and long-sleeve shirts.  

I hope to see you this weekend as we "go all the way to Greenville!"


(PLEASE NOTE CHANGES 5.9.05)
Carlton N. Owen
The Environmental Edge, LLC
www.edgestuff.com
620 Pettigru Street
Greenville, SC 29601
864.232.0909
864.235.0806 fax
carltonowen@charter.net

[MAJIKMAN]

vicupstate, on Jun 5 2005, 07:07 AM, said:

Rails to Trails gathering steam

Great news on the trails connecting Greenville Tech to downtown and TR to Downtown.   Once this is completed, it could be a very attractive amentiy to the entire county.  Greenville should extend this trail from TR to the state line and pick up the trail from Lake Conestee and go all the way to the Laurens County line via the Reedy River.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey. That sounds like a good idea. To hike or bike and having to see a car. That's unless you want to.

[vicupstate]

The Journal has an article about the trail.  $750,000 in state money has just been received.  The city is buying a 1.3 mile stretch through West Gville.  Eventually  the trail will reach 16 miles from TR to Lake Conestee.  A longer range goal is to go all the way to Lake Greenwood in Grenwood County.  It may have to bypass the Gville Country Club, but that has yet to be decided.

[photog freedom]

I wish more effort went into saving rail lines prior to abandonement than goes into converting old railbeds to trails after the track has been pulled up. The Greenville & Northern is a line that probably could have survived as an operating shortline railroad with a little assistance. Railroads make highways safer by pulling 18 wheelers off of them and it makes economic sense by allowing companies to build, adding to the tax base and hiring people.

Forgive me for saying this, but a trail doesn't do as much for the economic situation of the area as an operating railrod does.


Joe H.

[GvilleSC]

I agree that a trail probably does do less for an economy... but in a case like Greenville's- is it really possible to use a railroad? With as many industries as we have, I don't think it's possible to connect each industry (or even several or some) up to tracks. With an industrial driven economy such as the Upstate's, it's too late to go back and take the 18-wheelers off the road.

[sunbird-gvl]

I just got this from Carlton Owen:
Jay Hubert

Greenville Rails to Trails Volunteers
Saturday July 9th at 8:30 AM

(Travelers Rest to Downtown Greenville almost ¾ Complete)

4th Official Trail Workday Set
Greenville & Northern Rail Road
(a.k.a. Carolina Swamp Rabbit Trail)

What:  Carlton Owen, Chairman of Upstate Forever has requested volunteers to work alongside a team from the Greenville County Detention Center to continue clearing vegetation from the Greenville County-owned Greenville & Northern Rail Road

When:  Volunteers will meet at 8:30 am, Saturday, July 9 – work will conclude at 12:30 pm

Where:  Meet where the line crosses Sulfur Springs Road.  There are a couple of industrial parking lots adjacent to the crossing.

Why:  Greenville County Economic Development Corporation has approved a plan for voluntary clearing of the years of vegetation from the line as the first step in an assessment and planning phase that could lead to designation of the line for interim trail use.

Dress:  Long pants, boots, long-sleeve shirts and gloves (and insect repellant) are highly recommended.

Supplies:  Hand tools such as loppers, brush saws, brush axes, hatchets, sling-blades or gas-powered weed eaters.  

For more information:  carltonowen@charter.net

[Cap'n Prowler]

I'm interested in helping out this time around, now that I'm able to. I can't seem to find Sulfur Springs Road on a map though. Could any of you help me out?

[Spartan]

Sulfer Springs Road

[Cap'n Prowler]

Heh, I'm so hooked on MapQuest I completely forgot about Google Maps. Thanks, Spartan.

[btoy]

It doesn't help when there are more than sulpher springs rd.

This post helps me.  I just listed a property at the intersection of Sulpher Springs and the Rail rd. tracts and was wondering if those tracts were part of rails to trails.  No I don't have to go calling anyone to find out.

[vicupstate]

sunbird-gvl, on Jul 5 2005, 09:40 AM, said:

I just got this from Carlton Owen:
Jay Hubert

Greenville Rails to Trails Volunteers
Saturday July 9th at 8:30 AM

(Travelers Rest to Downtown Greenville almost ¾ Complete)

4th Official Trail Workday Set
Greenville & Northern Rail Road
(a.k.a. Carolina Swamp Rabbit Trail)

What:  Carlton Owen, Chairman of Upstate Forever has requested volunteers to work alongside a team from the Greenville County Detention Center to continue clearing vegetation from the Greenville County-owned Greenville & Northern Rail Road

When:  Volunteers will meet at 8:30 am, Saturday, July 9 – work will conclude at 12:30 pm

Where:  Meet where the line crosses Sulfur Springs Road.  There are a couple of industrial parking lots adjacent to the crossing.

Why:  Greenville County Economic Development Corporation has approved a plan for voluntary clearing of the years of vegetation from the line as the first step in an assessment and planning phase that could lead to designation of the line for interim trail use.

Dress:  Long pants, boots, long-sleeve shirts and gloves (and insect repellant) are highly recommended.

Supplies:  Hand tools such as loppers, brush saws, brush axes, hatchets, sling-blades or gas-powered weed eaters. 

For more information:  carltonowen@charter.net

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just a reminder about this.  I plan to be there.  This is a great opportunity to make Greenville an even better place to live.

[RestedTraveler]

vicupstate, on Jul 8 2005, 01:16 PM, said:

Just a reminder about this.  I plan to be there.  This is a great opportunity to make Greenville an even better place to live.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the reminder.  I'm still in Florida playing dodge-ball with Dennis.  I'll miss this round, but will look for future e-mails from Carlton.