A group of local and state conservation groups, spearheaded by the Greenville County Historic and Natural Resources Trust, have preserved 12 acres of Saluda River frontage to be developed into a park in Piedmont.
The successful effort to assemble several parcels along the Saluda River in the historic and rapidly growing Piedmont community was announced May 26 in a ceremony at the site.
According to the trust, the project represents its smallest but most complex conservation effort to date, which took the past two years to achieve.
The project involved assembling 12 acres across numerous parcels in the heart of Piedmont’s historic mill village along the Saluda River in southern Greenville County.
The parcels include:
- Two former FEMA flood buyout parcels located within the floodway
- A donated easement provided by the former textile mill property owners
- The acquisition of approximately 6 acres from a private family
Financing for the six-acre acquisition was made possible through a grant from GCHNRT, matching funds from the South Carolina Conservation Bank, private support from the Community Foundation of Greenville and additional support from the New Leaf Fund, which was established by Greenville native and longtime New York City parks planner Lea Rohrbaugh.
About four acres of the total are owned by Greenville County, which is in the process of transferring ownership to the Piedmont Public Service District as part of its efforts to develop recreational opportunities in Piedmont.
