New trail planned at Glendale Shoals Preserve

A new 2½-mile trail is coming to the Glendale Shoals area of Spartanburg.

The Spartanburg Area Conservancy received a $75,000 grant from the Duke Energy Water Resources Fund, allowing the group to expand its efforts in 2017 to preserve and protect open space.

"This is a really exciting time for our community," SPACE board President Ricky Richardson said. "SPACE is actively conserving open space and helping to expand our much valued trail system. This is land that generations ahead will be able to use to explore nature."

The grant will be used as a matching contribution for the construction of the trail. The project's total cost is about $250,000, including $100,000 already committed by Spartanburg County. The new trail will connect the Glendale Shoals Preserve with the Glendale Shoals Bridge, currently under restoration for pedestrian traffic.

The Glendale bridge, build in 1928, spans Lawson's Fork Creek. Carolina Bridge will remove debris and install shoring trusses to the bridge next month to provide additional support. The $1.7 million bridge restoration project is being funded by state and federal sources, along with private donations.

Partners For Active Living Executive Director Laura Ringo said on Wednesday the new trail will help connect the city's existing urban trail system.

"It is going to be a really important first step in eventually connecting with the Cottonwood Trail," Ringo said.

Ringo said construction of the new trail should begin in the spring.

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