Better parks, trails

By Cindy Landrum  

MARCH 22, 2011 2:03 p.m. (0)

Property could be acquired for another park on the Reedy River, plans could be drawn to extend the Swamp Rabbit Trail to Interstate 85 and Greenville’s commercial corridors could be revitalized under a plan unveiled this week.

City Manager John Castile presented the city’s capital improvement program for 2012 through 2016 at a city council work session.

Nearly $10 million would be spent during 2012 on parks and recreation, sewer, economic development, public safety, roads and storm water projects.

Projects totaling more than $33 million were left out of the five-year plan.

“A lot of good projects, not enough money to spread around,” said Phil Robey, the city’s Office of Management and Budget director.

A second council work session on the plan is scheduled for March 14.

Initial approval of the plan is tentatively set for April 11. Final approval of the plan will coincide with the passage of the city’s 2012 operating budget on May 23.

A public hearing on the budget and capital improvement plan is tentatively scheduled for May 16.

The plan includes $225,000 to design an extension of the Swamp Rabbit Trail from Greenville Tech at Pleasantburg Drive and Cleveland Street south to I-85 near Mauldin Road.

The exact route has yet to be determined.

The money will pay for an engineering firm to determine the best and most feasible route and acquire the necessary easements.

The Greenville County Recreation District and the Conestee Foundation are working to construct a trail north from Lake Conestee to Mauldin Road.

Other proposed projects include $550,000 to acquire property for a park along the Reedy River near Washington Street.

Another project would plan a trailhead along the city’s portion of the Swamp Rabbit Trail at the Chamber of Commerce. City Recreation Director Dana Souza said there are not many access points to the Swamp Rabbit Trial, putting pressure on Falls Park and Cleveland Park.

The trailhead, which would be built at the lower lot of the Chamber of Commerce on Cleveland Street would be handicapped accessible. Estimates put construction costs at $517,000.

Other projects included in the 2012 plan are $4 million for public improvements to Piazza Bergamo, $1.25 million for a renovation to the Peace Center and $250,000 to continue revitalization efforts in the city’s commercial corridors.

More than a half-million dollars would modernize the Church Street parking garage and a major sewer rehabilitation projects would be done in the Haynie-Sirrine and Faris Circle neighborhoods.

Two water quality monitoring stations on the Reedy River would be installed on the Reedy River for $150,000. The stations are needed for compliance with additional Clean Water Act requirements.

The last four years of the five-year plan are included for planning purposes.

Nearly $15 million in projects are listed for 2013, including a new fire station serving Clemson University International Center of Automotive Research, Verdae and Woodruff Road.

In 2014, $7.7 million in projects are listed, including nearly $2 million for a “cultural corridor” from the Bi-Lo Center to Heritage Green.