GREENVILLE — Plans are in place to add 270 acres to Paris Mountain State Park in the heart of Greenville County, a significant addition to a park close to one of the fastest growing urban areas of South Carolina.
In a series of moves involving years of effort from conservation groups, landowners and local, state and federal officials, four separate parcels of land totaling more than 120 acres will be transferred to the state parks department to add significant new trails, access points and capacity to the bustling park.
A fifth property — the largest at 146 acres — is awaiting final funding approval from Greenville County through the county’s new Historic and Natural Resources Trust. That site would then also be transferred to the state to become part of the park.
The 1,700-acre park just north of Greenville has seen its visitor numbers top a half-million annually. The additions would enlarge the park by close to 15 percent. The current park is popular for day use, as well as for hiking, camping and mountain biking. It includes several small reservoirs, mountains streams and trails through steep-sloped woodlands.
“We are excited about this opportunity to increase public access and increase recreation opportunities at Paris Mountain State Park,” said Daniel Gambrell, Chief of Park Operations for the state Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (SCPRT). “This property is a keystone piece to the larger trail network and will help connect the current trail system.”
The additions would eventually allow the park to expand its 17 miles of trails into the new sections, said Dan Neary, senior ranger at Paris Mountain State Park.
"This will also give us an opportunity to preserve even more of this beautiful landscape for not only the visitors but also the numerous plants and wildlife that call it home," Neary said.
Final details and approvals for funding are still in process. Once completed, the conserved land will encompass nearly the entire western face of Paris Mountain. That’s the view travelers see from Poinsett Highway or while traversing the Swamp Rabbit Trail headed toward Greenville.
"Paris Mountain is one of our most iconic and accessible natural areas in Greenville,” said Mac Stone, executive director of Naturaland Trust, a major partner in the project. “Visitation has quadrupled in the last three years and pressures to subdivide and develop the surrounding properties are constant. Expanding and protecting this natural gem for the public has become one of our top priorities and we are grateful for the landowners, the S.C. Conservation Bank, state parks and local funders who share our vision."
Funding for the final piece of the project known as Shiloh Ridge along Altamont Road and Shiloh Bend, which is owned by Greenville developer Robert Hughes, is close to being finalized. The S.C. Conservation Bank voted Sept. 21 to approve $750,000 for the purchase, said Raleigh West, the bank’s executive director.
Another piece of funding was finalized this week with a grant from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, Stone said.
That leaves one piece of funding still to come in order to close on the Shiloh Ridge site, he said.
A view of land on Paris Mountain that is set to become a major addition to Paris Mountain State Park. Provided/Mac Stone/Naturaland Trust
Greenville County Council held first reading on a proposal to use $400,000 from the county’s Historic and Natural Resources Trust as a matching grant for the Shiloh Ridge project. The request needs to pass two more votes by the council for approval. The council’s finance committee unanimously recommended approval of the funding.
When it was established just over a year ago, the county’s trust was required to bring any projects seeking more than $200,000 to County Council for approval.
Carlton Owen, chairman of the county’s trust, said trust members unanimously felt the Shiloh Ridge project was worthy of a larger investment in county resources, and recommended the county fund it at a higher amount. If funded, it would be the trust’s largest investment to date.
The Shiloh Ridge project offers the potential to add a new entrance and “significantly expanded trails,” to the park, Owen said.
“While it is still too early to claim victory, council has completed the first of three readings that will conclude with a vote that could see the project become a reality,” he said.
Flora on land set to become a major expansion to Paris Mountain State Park in Greenville County. Provided/Mac Stone/Naturaland Trust
Councilman Ennis Fant told The Post and Courier he saw no opposition among council members to approving the funds, which come from the trust’s $1 million annual budget funded by the county. Now into its second year of operation, the trust has contributed funding toward five total projects, with a number of others in process that haven’t yet closed.
Councilman Stan Tzouvelekas called the property “amazing” and said it would be useful for all county residents.
Councilman Joe Dill said the addition to the park would further enhance the quality of life for residents.
“The more of these things that we can do around this county causes people to want to build here and people to live here,” Dill said.
The parcels of land and funding sources for the Paris Mountain include:
- Furman Face, 58 acres to the west of Paris Mountain Country Club. Funding for the parcel came from the state conservation bank, Hollingsworth Funds, Graham Foundation, Daniel Mickel Foundation and Naturaland Trust.
- Altamont Ridge, 9.5 acres of several lots along both sides of Altamont Road. Funding for the project came from Judy Cromwell, the conservation bank, SCPRT and Naturaland Trust.
- Gospel Tract, 23 acres located south of the Furman Face tract and funded by the conservation bank, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), SCPRT and Naturaland Trust. The interconnected parcels make up a large portion of the face of Paris Mountain, Stone said. “These properties are key to preserving the iconic view as people come into and leave Greenville,” he said.
- Brissy Ridge, 33 acres to the northeast of the state park. Funded by the conservation bank and Naturaland Trust. The section has been used for years by hikers though it was privately owned, Stone said. Naturaland Trust donated a conservation easement to Upstate Forever that will remain with the property, he said. Brissy Ridge protects a ridgeline and allows an eastern expansion to the state park.
- Shiloh Ridge, approximately 146 acres adjacent to the state park. Funding commitments came from the conservation bank, LWCF, Open Space Institute, a match from SCPRT, and a grant from the Community Foundation.
“We are hopeful the County Council will approve an award that will finalize the transaction through the newly created and highly effective Greenville County Historic and Natural Resources Trust,” Stone said. “This project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to augment the size of Paris Mountain State Park for the nearly half a million people who visit each year.”
A stream runs through a section of land that will become a major addition to Paris Mountain State Park in Greenville County. Provided/Mac Stone/Naturaland Trust
