SCDNR and team at Clemson University work on plan to clean up Bald Rock

The landscape architecture team from Clemson is working on a design solution

The landscape architecture team from Clemson is working on a design solution

REPORTER: IF YOU TAKE A LOOK HERE BEHIND ME AT BALD ROCK HERITAGE PRESERVE, YOU CAN SEE JUST A SMALL PORTION OF THE GRAFFITI THAT IS HERE. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THOSE WE SPOKE WITH HOPE TO ADDRESS LONG TERM. AT BALD ROCK HERITAGE PRESERVE, VISITORS ENJOY THE PEACEFUL VIEWS OVERLOOKING THE UPSTATE. BUT BELOW ON THE ROCK BENEATH THEIR FEET, COLORFUL GRAFFITI OF VARIOUS DESIGNS AND WORDS. >> I AM TOLD THE GRAFFITI BEGAN WHEN ALL GRAFFITI BEGAN, IN THE LATE 70’S. REPORTER: SUSAN JORDAN, WITH THE NONPROFIT ’FRIENDS OF BALD ROCK HERITAGE PRESERVE, SAYS THE GRAFFITI AND LITTER HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM AT BALD ROCK FOR DECADES. >> RIGHT NOW, THE AREAS OF VEGETATION ARE TRAMPLED BY VISITORS AND THERE’S GLASS ALL OVER THE PLACE. AND ANYTHING THAT GETS IN THE STREAM IS IMPACTING THE WATER QUALITY. REPORTER: OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION HAS WORKED TO CLEAN UP THE AREA, PICKING UP THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF LITTER AND PRESSURE WASHING THE GRAFFITI. BUT NOW, THE ORGANIZATION IS WORKING WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND A TEAM AT CLEMSON UNIVERSITY TO COME UP WITH A MORE LONGTERM SOLUTION. >> THE GOAL OF THE WHOLE PROJECT IS TO ENHANCE THE SAFE PUBLIC USE OF THE PROPERTY WHILE PROTECTING THE NATURAL RESOURCES. >> IT’S GOING TO BE A CULTURAL SHIFT, A DIFFERENT MINDSET OF WHAT THIS SITE IS. REPORTER: PAUL RUSSELL, WITH CLEMSON, SAYS THEY ARE LOOKING AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS, INCLUDING HOW PEOPLE USE THE AREA WAYS TO MAKE IT A SPOT FOR HIKERS AND HOW TO CHANGE VISITORS’ BEHAVIOR. >> THERE’S NO SILVER BULLET OR IMMEDIATE FIX TO THE SITUATION HERE. WE’RE TRYING TO MAKE LONG TERM CULTURAL CHANGE AND REALLY SHIFT THE WAY PEOPLE BEHAVE ON SITE AND TEACH THEM AND EDUCATE THEM ALONG THE WAY ABOUT THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF THE ECOLOGY AND THIS SPECIAL SPACE. REPORTER: THE NONPROFIT IS REMINDING PEOPLE TO DO THEIR PART TO KEEP THIS AREA CLEAN. THAT MEANS WHILE COMING HERE TO ENJOY IT, LEAVE IT THE WAY YOU FOUND IT. IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PLANS FOR THIS STUDY OR PROVIDE FEEDBACK, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE WYFF4.COM. IN GREENVILLE COUNTY, JENNIFER READY, WYFF NEWS 4

SCDNR and team at Clemson University work on plan to clean up Bald Rock

The landscape architecture team from Clemson is working on a design solution

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is working with a landscape architecture team at Clemson University and Friends of Bald Rock Heritage Preserve to develop a plan to clean up Bald Rock. "Friends of Bald Rock have been picking up litter and pressure washing graffiti off the rock for a year, but we know that's not sustainable," said Susan Jordan, president of Friends of Bald Rock Heritage Preserve. "So, we proposed a collaboration between DNR and Clemson Landscape Architecture Department to help us find sustainable design solutions to address all the issues at Bald Rock."Jordan said graffiti and litter have been a problem at Bald Rock for decades. Over the past year, Jordan said Friends of Bald Rock Heritage Preserve has picked up thousands of pounds of litter and pressure washed the graffiti. “Right now, the areas of vegetation are trampled by visitors, and there’s glass all over the place, and anything that gets in the stream is impacting the water quality,” said Jordan. Paul Russell, director of graduate studies for landscape architecture at Clemson University, said the master plan study will look at several different areas, including ecology, how people use the site and how to mitigate the graffiti. “There’s no silver bullet or immediate fix to the situation there," said Russell. "We’re trying to make long-term cultural change and really kind of shift the way people behave on-site and teach them and educate them along the way about the value and importance of the ecology and this special space.” To learn more about the plans or to provide feedback, you can contact Austen Attaway at 864-986-6242. For more information about Friends of Bald Rock Heritage Preserve and volunteer opportunities, visit their website.

CLEVELAND —

"Friends of Bald Rock have been picking up litter and pressure washing graffiti off the rock for a year, but we know that's not sustainable," said Susan Jordan, president of Friends of Bald Rock Heritage Preserve. "So, we proposed a collaboration between DNR and Clemson Landscape Architecture Department to help us find sustainable design solutions to address all the issues at Bald Rock."

Jordan said graffiti and litter have been a problem at Bald Rock for decades. Over the past year, Jordan said Friends of Bald Rock Heritage Preserve has picked up thousands of pounds of litter and pressure washed the graffiti.

“Right now, the areas of vegetation are trampled by visitors, and there’s glass all over the place, and anything that gets in the stream is impacting the water quality,” said Jordan.

Paul Russell, director of graduate studies for landscape architecture at Clemson University, said the master plan study will look at several different areas, including ecology, how people use the site and how to mitigate the graffiti.

“There’s no silver bullet or immediate fix to the situation there," said Russell. "We’re trying to make long-term cultural change and really kind of shift the way people behave on-site and teach them and educate them along the way about the value and importance of the ecology and this special space.”

To learn more about the plans or to provide feedback, you can contact Austen Attaway at 864-986-6242. For more information about Friends of Bald Rock Heritage Preserve and volunteer opportunities, visit their website.

SCDNR and team at Clemson University work on plan to clean up Bald Rock

The landscape architecture team from Clemson is working on a design solution

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