Successes
Since 2003, PAL: Play. Advocate. Live Well. (formerly Partners for Active Living) has improved health and wellness throughout Spartanburg County by creating an environment and culture that fosters physical activity, healthy eating and health equity. PAL is a small nonprofit working to enact large-scale change through effective partnerships.
Check a few of the many ways we’re helping Spartanburg – so much of our work is measurable!
| Advance Active Living | Promote Healthy Eating | Foster Health Equity |
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Wellness Through Policy Changes +
- Suggested and supported SC legislation that allows for a state income tax credit for any property owner that allows for a voluntary trail easement (H.3120 has passed the House and a Senate sub-committee)
- Lobbied for the allocation of public funds for walking, bicycling and trails
- Facilitated South Carolina’s first joint use agreements openings School Districts 6 & 7’s playgrounds to the public
- Supported Spartanburg School District 7 in passing and implementing a district wellness policy that prioritizes healthy eating and physical activity
- Supported water access and promotion for schools and work places
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Wellness Through Collaboration +
- Chosen as one of 50 in the country to receive a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation four year grant called Healthy People Healthy Places
- Developed and continue to support Childhood Obesity Taskforce, now Eat Smart Move More Spartanburg, Trails Coalition, City of Spartanburg bicycle and pedestrian commission and the Food System Coalition
- Developed and oversee the Duncan Park steering committee for revitalization
- Partner with FoodShare Spartanburg to provide our community with access to healthy food
- Coordinated the creation of the Mobile Market, owned and operated by Hub City Farmers’ Market
- Partnered with Spartanburg County Parks on the development of the Woodruff Greenway
- Coordinate trails cleanups across the county with the Trees Coalition
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Wellness Through System Changes +
- Spearheaded Spartanburg’s Bike Town campaign earning the first Bicycle-Friendly community designation in 2007
- Partnered with 21 Spartanburg schools to implement the Healthier Generation Healthy Schools Framework
- Collected 11 years of BMI from all districts for all first, third, fifth graders in Spartanburg County
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Wellness Through Place-Based Changes +
- Envisioned, built and updated existing trails within the Daniel Morgan Trail System including: Upper and Lower Drayton, Wadsworth, Three Creeks, and River Birch
- Raised $1.9M for and managed the implementation of The Rail Yard Community Park project, including the NFL Panthers Play 60 and Vic Bailey Subaru Bike Park
- Launched and oversaw the Southeast’s first bicycle sharing program called Spartanburg BCycle from 2012-2022
- Spearheaded the installation of almost 200 bicycle racks throughout Spartanburg’s urban core
- Advocated additional miles of new sidewalks and bicycle lanes
- Secured $200,000 of Safe Routes to School grants with Inman Elementary, Mabry Middle, Lone Oak, and Pine Street
- Partnered with SC DHEC and DSS to improve five preschool outdoor spaces through the Natural Learning Initiative
- Advocated with Coalition for Active Youth on the Rail Tail Dog Park
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Wellness Through Community Programming +
- Have grown the SRHS Criterium spectator experience from 3 tents to 100+
- Grew the Turkey Day 8K from 60 participants to 2,000+
- Assisted with South Carolina’s first walk and bicycle to school day and for many years, Spartanburg had the highest rates of participation across the state
- Coordinated a public art project that incorporated bicycle parts called Art Cycle, many of which can still be seen around downtown
- Commissioned sculptures along the MBF Rail Trail called Trains on the Trail to highlight Spartanburg’s rail history thanks to funding from Women Giving for Spartanburg
- Created and led Hub Cycle, a low-no cost bicycle lending program, from 2006-2016
- Purchased two Heather’s Ride bicycles so that children with disabilities can enjoy bicycling and the outdoors
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