Designs for the inaugural five‑mile segment of the Saluda Grade Trail are roughly 60% complete, officials said at a public open house in Landrum this August. The trail will begin at the North Carolina border near Tryon and run south through Landrum, ending near Hulon Howard Road.
Community involvement and nonprofit leadership
Approximately 300 locals attended the meeting hosted by PAL (Play, Advocate, Live Well), the nonprofit leading the South Carolina portion of the project. PAL works with Conserving Carolina, which oversees the North Carolina segment. Representatives from SeamonWhiteside, the design firm, and Conserving Carolina answered questions about the trail’s route, bridges and retaining walls.
Design milestones and future trailheads
With the design half‑finished, the trail’s alignment is set, bridge locations identified and environmental impacts addressed. Planned trailheads and parking areas include a site at the state line, the historic Landrum Depot and a spot near Boyd Cycling along U.S. Highway 176.
Funding outlook
Construction of the first phase hinges on securing grant money. PAL’s executive director, Laura Ringo, explained that the project is applying for a $10 million ARISE grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission—$5 million for South Carolina and $5 million for North Carolina. The ARISE program favors projects that benefit multiple communities across county and state lines.
Ringo also noted that a recent U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant helped fund planning for the entire 15‑mile South Carolina stretch. While much of the work to date has been preparatory, she expressed cautious optimism that the ARISE funding will be awarded, citing the trail’s potential to transform the region.
Next steps
PAL and Conserving Carolina are now soliciting bids from contractors to remove and salvage the old rail tracks. Once a contractor is selected, physical changes to the landscape will become visible, moving the project from paper to reality.
Community support remains strong, with residents eager to see the historic Saluda Grade rail line repurposed into a recreational corridor that will link three counties across both Carolinas.
Original reporting: Greenville Journal — read the source article.
