Friends of Laurens County Trails Association
We hope that you’ve had a great spring and are looking forward to a summer filled with outdoor activities!
Here’s the latest news and happenings with LCTA:
We’ll have a booth at Heritage Hype in Clinton on May 20. Our theme is “Come play with us!” and we’ll be there to help you find hiking, biking, and water trails in our county. Heritage Hype is sponsored by the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce and features those businesses and organizations related to tourism and things to do in Laurens County. This year it’s being combined with Clinton’s annual Rhythm on the Rails festival, which is May 19-20 and includes over 60 vendors, 21 BBQ Competition teams, two days of free entertainment, live WSSL broadcast, rides and other events. For more information, see www.rotrclintonsc.com.
The Clinton Canopy group is excited to announce that the Millers Fork Trail will soon become a reality. A contract has been awarded to Darrohn Engineering and they will begin work soon. The trail is expected to be completed by August 1. Clinton Canopy expects there to be opportunities for volunteers to contribute to the project although the specifics have yet to be worked out. Possibilities could include grubbing out the section that extends beyond the utility right-of-way, or raking back excess mulch to clear the way for the trail bed, or building picnic tables, or planting trees. Perhaps you have special skills you can offer to the project. If you have ideas about how you can help, please contact me and I’ll get you connected with Clinton Canopy. For more information, see http://www.clintoncanopy.org/millers-fork/.
The LCTA Board has been very busy planning the route for the GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail through the County. We’ve focused on the cities of Laurens and Clinton, and the connection between them. Our initial priority is the connection between the cities, through the county, and are working with the county parks and recreation department to finalize the route. Our next step is meeting with land owners to discuss access agreements and then to apply for funding grants.
The state department of transportation (SCDOT) has agreed to place “Share the Road” signs along the 70-mile bike route that County Council approved last year. Our next step on bike routes is to determine whether we can place directional signs and to add the route to a smart phone app so riders can follow it.
The LCTA Board is delighted to announce the election of Norman Scarborough to our board. Norm is a professor of business and entrepreneurship at Presbyterian College, a former member of Clinton City Council, has been board chair of the Laurens County Health Care System and the Laurens County Community Fund, and has served on many other boards as well. He was named Clinton’s Citizen of the Year in 2009 and is committed to enhancing the quality of life in Laurens County by improving and developing all types of trails. If you see Norm, please welcome him to our cause.
Have a great summer and please contact me with your ideas, questions, or concerns. Stay in touch through www.lctrails.org and www.facebook.com/laurenscountytrailsassociation. Last (and probably least) if you have my email address in your contacts, please update it to donwalker@lctrails.org.
Don Walker, Executive Director
Laurens County Trails Association
PO Box 1492, Laurens, SC 29360