In search of (more) happy trails with Upstate Greenways and Trails Alliance

The leaders of UGATA, Upstate Greenways and Trails Alliance, aren’t content to simply advocate for more trails — they want to make it happen.

“We believe that UGATA is an organization that harnesses the desire for better active infrastructure and translates that desire into tangible results,” says Sam Davis, program director.

A public-private partnership, UGATA finds trail locations, secures access and funding, orders land surveys, creates designs, sources contracts and more.

“Many Upstate projects have not been built because one of these critical elements was missing,” says Nathan Galbreath, chairman of the board. “UGATA, through its alliance, and in concert with its public partners, provides the missing elements to make projects a reality.”

The group, founded in late 2019, has the ambitious goal of adding 100 miles of trails and greenways in the Upstate in 10 years. After two years — including one largely on hold due to COVID-19 — UGATA has created seven new miles, with several more in the works.

Six new miles of trails

The biggest success to date, Galbreath says, is six new miles of trails at Lakeside Park in Piedmont. By partnering with Greenville County’s Parks and Recreation Department as well as local trail-building company Carolina Trailworks, UGATA took unused land on the park’s property, removed three tons of garbage, and added the trails in just over one year.

“The trails now serve as the primary practice location for the Upstate Shredders youth mountain biking team and also provide an important recreation amenity for several adjacent, underserved neighborhoods,” Galbreath says.

Why trails? “Trails and greenways have many benefits, but mostly are vital infrastructure that creates a healthy community,” says David Taylor, who directs Momentum Bike Clubs and works in Clemson University’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management Department. “They are also a wonderful advancement to our quality of life.”

He joined the board of UGATA because he views it as “results-oriented non-profit that seeks to expand healthy opportunities to ride and walk in the Upstate.”

Research shows that trails offer cost-effective ways to commute to jobs and school, and bring in new businesses and tourism, expanding tax revenue.

Next up for the group is a 1.6-mile greenway that connects Travelers Rest High School and the George I. Theisen YMCA. Other priorities include building a safe Swamp Rabbit crossing at West Blue Ridge (S.C. 253) and creating a repository for trail-related master plans and land studies done by local governments within 10 Upstate counties.

“We need more citizens to push their representatives to make sure these planned trails become reality,” Davis says. ““Citizen engagement is a key part of any infrastructure plan and our representatives are eager to hear what citizens think about our trail system.”