Federal funds could help improve trails at local state parks

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The state parks system is applying for federal money to improve or expand trails in Caesars Head, Table Rock and Paris Mountain state parks.

Some of the money awarded through the Federal Highway Administration's recreation trail program could help improve the Pinnacle Mountain trail at Table Rock, according to Dawn Dawson-House, a spokeswoman for the state parks system.

The funds also would allow a trail in Paris Mountain State Park to be expanded into property recently deeded to the park by the Greenville Water System and fund a new trail in Caesars Head, Dawson-House said.

The length, structure and route of the proposed trails will heavily depend on funding, she said. But residents can hear more details about each park's proposal during public meetings this week.

The meeting for Caesars Head and Table Rock will be at 7 tonight in the chapel at Table Rock State Park. Paris State Park rangers will host another meeting from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday at the Phoenix Inn on North Pleasantburg Drive in Greenville.

Money in the recreation trail program comes from a tax on off-road vehicles. The grants are administered by the state and require parks to make a 20 percent match in either money, in-kind services or volunteer hours.

Last year, Paris Mountain used a portion of the money from the program to hire two trail builders.

Some of that money also is allowing a new a handicap-accessible trail to be built on Lake Placid, a connector trail from the park center and other trail related improvements.

Paris Mountain Park Manager Ty Houck said his agency hopes to use any money received this year to build a handicap-accessible trail to Mountain Lake and to expand trails throughout the park, as well as the northwest area.

The community's support plays a significant role in the awarding of dollars in the trail program. Houck said the hope is that many residents will attend and sign a petition to show support. The Paris Mountain meetings will offer presentations every 15 to 20 minutes.

Houck said some of the ideas regarding the park came from the Greenville 2025 initiative to provide more trails in order for people to get more exercise and improve their lifestyles.

Gov. Mark Sanford also issued a challenge residents to get more physically active in his State of the State Address.

Trails are part of that by providing a source or recreation that involves a little bit of exercise, said Joe Anderson, superintendent of the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, which includes Caesars Head and Jones Gap state parks.

"We do understand the value of nature-based tourism type products that South Carolina has to offer. We do cater to the nature-based tourism market," he said.