Swamp Rabbit Trail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Swamp Rabbit Trail |
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Swamp Rabbit Trail
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| Length | 19.9 mi (32.0 km) |
| Location | Greenville County, South Carolina |
| Use | Cycling, walking, running |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Season | Year-round |
The Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail is a super cool path in Greenville County, South Carolina. It's nearly 20 miles long and is perfect for biking, walking, and running! This trail mostly follows an old railroad line. People nicknamed the railroad after the local swamp rabbit, and the name stuck for the trail too!
The trail starts near Greenville Technical College. It goes right through the city of Greenville. You'll even pass through beautiful Falls Park and the campus of Furman University. The trail ends a little north of Travelers Rest.
Contents
How the Trail Was Created
From Railroad to Recreation Path
Back in 1999, leaders in Greenville wanted to buy an old railroad track. This track belonged to the Greenville and Northern Railway. They thought it could be used for both a greenway (a natural path) and a light rail train.
The idea for a commuter train didn't work out. But a newspaper editor suggested making it a bike and hiking trail. At first, this seemed like a "dream" that wouldn't come true. Even in 2005, parts of the path were so overgrown, you needed a machete to get through!
Making the Dream a Reality
Planning for a multi-use trail began in the summer of 2005. First, the government had to approve closing the old railroad line. A private company even thought about buying the line to restart train service. Luckily, they decided not to.
In April 2006, the government finally approved the trail project. Then, in 2007, a health system called Greenville Health System gave a huge donation of $1 million. This helped fund the $2.7 million project. That's when the trail officially got its name: the Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail.
Even with some challenges, people started using the trail in early 2008. The trail officially opened in 2010. It took a lot of hard work, but it was worth it!
Trail Connections and Future Plans
Connecting Different Sections
Right now, there are a few parts of the trail that aren't connected. One section goes from Lake Conestee Nature Park to Parkins Mill Road. Another separate part is in Fountain Inn.
Some people living near Parkins Mill have not wanted a connection to the Lake Conestee section. But officials in Greenville County are planning to connect these parts. They want to build special underpasses or overpasses to make the trail continuous.
Why the Trail is Important
A Boost for the Community
The Swamp Rabbit Trail has become super popular! A study in 2012 found that over 350,000 people used the trail each year. Businesses along the trail saw their sales go up a lot, sometimes by 30% to 85%!
By 2014, even more people were using the trail, about half a million every year. About a quarter of these users were tourists visiting the area.
The mayor of Travelers Rest said in 2013 that the trail was "phenomenal" for the whole county. He said it brought a huge economic boost to his town. An editorial in the Greenville News called the trail "one of the most popular assets in Greenville County." It showed that if you build great trails, people will definitely come and enjoy them!
In 2016, officials estimated that the trail brings about $7 million into the county's economy every year. That's a lot of money helping local businesses and jobs!
