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See Lancaster Reports
By Nancy Howell
Carolina Thread Trail Involves Lancaster County
This past November, over 600 guests were invited to attend a kick-off luncheon at the Charlotte Marriott City Center sponsored by Carolina Thread Trail. Two of those guests represented See Lancaster - board president Debbie Jaillette and welcome center hostess Sylvia Hudson. They were part of a special occasion where guests were educated about the proposed trails while witnessing firsthand $14.5 million in corporate commitments toward their fundraising campaign. Duke Energy Corporation, Wachovia Corporation, Bank of America Corporation, and Foundation for the Carolinas were among the contributors.
Organizers for Carolina Thread Trail presented a proposal involving fifteen counties, including Lancaster County, which would create a regional network of connecting greenways and trails. The plan provides a link between people, cities, towns, and attractions.
What is a greenway? It is a corridor of undeveloped land preserved for recreational use or environmental protection. It can have many benefits to a county such as promoting tourism, promoting conservation of nature and wildlife habitats while increasing awareness and visitation of cultural and historical venues. These outdoor classrooms will also help to educate our children about the Earth.
There is a proposed trail map on the web site www.carolinathreadtrail.org. Trails for each community will be determined by the people living in the area. They will plan and work with neighbors to target points of connection within the trail. The “thread” shown on the site offers a vision for the project and will certainly change as these conceptual lines become reality.
The staff of See Lancaster is encouraging organizations and individuals to check out the resolution of support found on their website and, if this concept falls within your mission, we encourage you to sign it.
Lancaster County is unquestionably experiencing a strong pattern of growth. We must keep in mind that preservation of property and green spaces is essential for recreational uses. Carolina Thread Trail is a wonderful opportunity for the county to plan for the future in this effort to weave communities together.
We ask that you imagine a Boy Scout troop enjoying the U.S. National Whitewater Center and then hiking to Crowders Mountain State Park where they will camp overnight. The same option could be available to individuals and local groups as well if we but seize this moment to act upon such a visionary project.
There are many large-scale trail systems in the United States, but the one we can most relate to is the nearby Palmetto Trail. It crosses South Carolina from the mountains of Oconee State Park in the western part of our state to the Atlantic Ocean just north of Georgetown. Ann Springs Close of Fort Mill, a lifelong hiker, was instrumental in planning and implementing that trail. One might expect the Anne Springs Close Greenway near Fort Mill to be a part of the planned Carolina Thread Trails.
To become involved with this effort, go to their web site or come by our office at 201 W. Gay Street in the Springs House to pick up a brochure which will provide additional information about this project.
We may be contacted about trails or other tourism information by calling 286-1145.
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