By Rick Abercrombie
In a recent visit to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo, Mark Smyers, Executive Director of Irmo-Chapin Recreation Commission, updated the audience on the status of development of the Saluda Shoals Greenway.
The Greenway is ultimately a project that will flow from the Dam to a connection to the Riverwalk near I-20. The project will encompass three phases, with Phase 1 now in progress. The tentative completion of that phase is June, 2026, and at that time, the completed route will connect the Dam to Saluda Shoals’ existing campus.
Smyers described the overall philosophy of the project by citing a sociological trend. According to Smyers, the community is trending toward a more urban characteristic vs. countryside/outdoors. That said, the need to reconnect with nature and to disconnect from the busy-ness of everyday life becomes apparent. The hopeful result will be an enhanced work-to-leisure lifestyle.
In Smyers’ words, the Greenway will be “integrated within what nature has already provided.” To his point, a stroll on the paved portion already completed is a “curvy” one. If an established tree is in the way of a more direct route, the tree is often preserved where it grows and the walkway veers around it. So the effect is one of very few straightaways. Even assuming use by cyclists, the planning creates an intentionally leisurely pace.
Also characteristic of the area being developed is that it moves in and out of an old established flood plain. The routing of the walkway takes into consideration the proximity to neighborhoods. So it is close to those places only when it has to be.
Looking to the future, planning is now underway for Phase 2 In total, once the three phase are finished, the length of the project will cover eight miles and will involve crossing the Carolina Crossroads project. Until Carolina Crossroads is completed, the Greenway will stop 300 feet shot of it. Smyers cited a rough timeline of 2029-2030 for that linkup.
There is an even larger, “macro” picture in play. Involving six entities in total, the Greenway will be part of a 27 mile stretch, with several boardwalk systems involved along the way.
Pictured are Smyers and Optimist Club Vice President Larry Blosser, who presented the speaker with a copy of the Optimist Creed.
