Greenville Rec Annual Trails Report

Greenville Rec Annual Trails Report

1 May 2011 Submitted Chaco grant at request of Mast General Store for purchase and supplying trail building tool trailer. Met with Greenville County Traffic Engineer regarding trail design for southern section of Swamp Rabbit. Ty has been invited to serve as a juror at the Clemson School of Architecture Greenway project. June 2011 Ty met with community group about improving railcar at Sulphur Springs. Ty spoke with NRPA about upcoming feature article in the NRPA magazine. Northcliff community connection project completed, safely connecting 1000 residents to the Swamp Rabbit just south of TR Submitted $250k grant to extend Swamp Rabbit north, improve road crossings, and add a bikeshare station at Furman. July 2011 Colin submitted $2,500 Kodak grant for funding of tree roundabouts. The SRTT closure started July 5th expected for 1 week while the EPA concludes soil testing of old Scott s Plant. GCRD held press conference regarding opening of spur trail to Foot Hills Rd and NorthCliff community neighborhoods. Ty is working with Duncan Chapel Rd area community on sidewalk construction to create better links to Swamp Rabbit. We received $3500 donation by Greenville Track Club for mile marker sponsorship, $2000 next year. We are preparing to go to printer with another 13,000 maps (last printing October 2010). Ty began working on funding request for bridge over Hwy 253 for August submittal. 1

2 August 2011 The EPA has completed testing at the Old Scott s Plant. Paving has begun and should be completed August 10. This section will be 15 wide. Helped local bike advocacy group with children helmet fitting and putting bells on bikes The new Flow Park / Bike Skills Park was built in 2 days at Gateway park through a partnership with Upstate Southern Off-Road Biking Association. GCRD has been recommended for funding for two grants totally $150,000 for further development of the Flow Park and northern extension of the Swamp Rabbit. Final project approval is expected to come from the feds in October Stripped the approaches to the intersections of Watkins Bridge Rd, Sulphur Springs Rd, and West Blue Ridge to bring an even greater level of attention to these road crossings Short-track mtb race was well attended with 65 competitors and another 50 spectators. This event was put on by the late Jeff Papenfus. Met with GHS about promoting helmet use and providing Safe Kids helmets through local bike shops Whole Foods volunteers and staff continue the stenciling project on the trail that is tied to the 911 call center Duncan Chapel sidewalk project presented to the C-fund committee. C-fund tabled the discussion until the group can raise at least half of the money. September 2011 Ty met with designers of Valmont Mountain Bike Park in Boulder, CO in preparation of designing Phase 2 of the bike skills park at Gateway Park. He also continues to research pedestrian crossing solutions while touring the Boulder, CO greenway system. The City of Fountain Inn joined GCRD in the effort to expand the GHS Swamp Rabbit with the dedication of a ½ mile section of greenway. Ty met with the Paddle SC visioning group. Paddle SC group was formed to promote the use and appreciation of South Carolina paddle trails. October 2011 Ty met with the Flow Park committee to prepare design concepts and development of bike skills elements at Gateway Park. 2

3 Ty presented in Charleston at the regarding the successes of Greenville s bike improvements and how Charleston may be able to replicate our successes. Ty also met with Upstate Forever to review draft of 1st year s report on the Impact Study for the GHS Swamp Rabbit. Ty and Colin worked to produce kiosk signage for the Swamp Rabbit. Worked with volunteer on 9/11 tribute on the Swamp Rabbit that was well received by the community. Ty introduced himself to adjacent property owners in advance of extending the Swamp Rabbit north. Everyone he spoke with was excited and supportive of expansion. November 2011 We received notice that we were awarded an Appalachian Regional Council grant for the GHS Swamp Rabbit for $250,000 to extend the trail northward toward Northwest Middle School. Ty spoke with a reporter from the Greenville News about how the SRTT has spurred new businesses and with Tim Waller of Chanel 4 about concern of dangerous road crossings. December 2011 We received a $1,700 grant from Chaco Sandals to outfit a Trail Trailer. This will be used by GCRD staff and volunteer groups to perform trail construction projects. Additional funding needed. Ty spoke with an Economic Development group from Canada on the impacts of the SRTT. Ty submitted 6 Letters of Intent for RTP trail grant funding. Ty met with Paul Mills to discuss tunnel options under Hwy 253 (Blue Ridge Drive) along the SRTT. This option seems more feasible than a bridge at this point. January 2012 Ty continues to serve on the City of Greenville committee to determine the best route to connect the SRTT near Parkins Mill and Pleasantburg. 3

4 Opened the section of SRTT from ReWA (I-85) to Lake Conestee Nature Park. February 2012. Go, Hunt, Scan Incorporated GCRD Sites including the Swamp Rabbit Trail into a county-wide digital scavenger hunt game through c&b events and GHS. Applied for New Freedom funding through Greenlink for 253 tunnel, advanced intersection warning systems, and sidewalk connections. Jeremiah Project meeting with EPA. Layout of Duncan Chapel trail. Initiation of Swamp Rabbit Food Guide with Edible Upcountry. ArcGIS website map and app with Brian Graham and City GIS Conestee data gathered and pictures of important areas. Attended County Finance Committee meeting regarding railcar future at Sulphur Springs Road. PRCRC Trail layout work March 2012 Prepared TRAILER proposal for funding support. Discussions of Duncan Chapel sidewalk/trail connection to SRT are on-going. Assisted with trail layout at Cedar Falls. Assisted with SRT connection to Conestee Park ensuring that it follows industry best practices. Toured Tom Donovan and Ed Hughes in preparation of construction. Met with Robert Hall, County Floodplain manager and Ed Hughes, Drainage engineer about utilizing an existing tunnel to cross Hwy 253. Both endorsed development of project Sandra Yudice submitted a grant to Greenville Women s Giving for renovation of old railcar at Sulphur Springs. 22 trees planted at section of trail at Old Scott s Plant. 4

5 Met with Blake Sanders of Seamon Whiteside about a gateway improvement design at Henderson Rd in TR. Final draft of 1st year Impact Study report completed. Planning a public release date with UF. Filmed a quality of life video for CB Caine Co. Speaker at Hickory, NC City Council visit to Greenville. They have potential for a project similar to the SRT. Bids for Henderson Farm natural surface trail at LCNP advertised. April 2012 Working towards the April 13th due date for Recreational Trail Grant funding for the following projects (approx. number of people responding, as of 4/3, to the on-line meetings) o Northern Extension of Swamp Rabbit (155 people) o Phase 2 of Bike Skills course at Gateway Park (89) o Multi-use trail at PRCRC that includes the first Barefoot sensory trail in North America (90) o Paved connector trail between southern section of Swamp Rabbit and Conestee Park (110) o 11 mile multi-use trail network at Loretta C Woods Park (81) o Road crossing improvements (117) o Saluda River paddling trail (112) Working with County and Upstate Forever on presentation for April 17th County Council Committee of the Whole meeting to present 1st year results of SRT Impact Study. Press conference expected for 11am April 18th at 205 Cedar Lane Rd Sheriff s Office Swamp Rabbit Trail Deputies have reported no crimes on trail since starting patrols 1 ½ years ago. Only 3 car break-ins at trail heads. AFL Telecommunications, ATT and Trees Greenville provided and planted 32 Natchez Crepe Myrtles along the trail at Roe Ford Rd at the old Scott s Plant demolition area. 55 trees planted at this location to date. Presentations: o Greenville Track Club monthly meeting (GTC sponsors 10 mile markers along trail and will fund a water fountain installation along with Greenville Water System later this year at the old railcar at Sulphur Springs 5

6 o Keep America Beautiful, City Recycling, Greenville County Public Works about increasing trash and recycling awareness on SRT. Possibly through a Recycle Cycle that could also be used at special events throughout the county, at educational programs at the school, etc. o Foothills Paddling monthly meeting presented about GCRD in general and efforts to develop a river trail on the Saluda and other river access issues o Attended but then asked to present at the Ecusta Trail Economic Impact meeting in Hendersonville, NC to city and county councils of the two counties regarding a future greenway from Brevard to Hendersonville. Meetings: o Property owners in the Poinsett Corridor area o SORBA and Ride On Bike Shop tour of Loretta C Woods Park for development of multi-use trail system. o Eagle Scout about participating in Bike Skills Park Construction o Marty and Ashley to review trail layout before AmeriCorps arrives o Poinsett Corridor Revitalization Committee Toured Tim Vinson of DNR, the Saluda River property in effort to seek funding for purchase of this 16 acre parcel north of Piedmont to create a 9 mile river trail in partnership with Anderson County May 2012 Submitted 6 grants totaling $600,000 for trail funding. Presented to Leadership Greenville while riding the 7-seat conference bike around downtown Greenville. Eagle Scout worked on 911 mileage marking system on the SRT from I-85 to Conestee Dam. Held press conference on 1st year data of Impact Study on SRT. Attended Poinsett Corridor Revitalization Steering Committee meeting. Met with Wilmington, NC Planning Department to assist with their efforts at developing a county greenways master plan. 6

7 Attended Greenville Tech Earth Fest, Friends of Paris Mountain Day, and the REI Paddle Fest. Attended Conestee Community Planning Meeting held by the Greenville County Planning Department. Participated as board member in the Conestee Foundation Strategic Planning workshop. Provided training for AmeriCorps crew working on trail building at Pleasant Ridge Park. 7