Kings Mountain State Park in York County may see a significant expansion in a few years thanks to a nearly 600-acre land acquisition by the Open Space Institute.
OSI announced the acquisition Aug. 26 of a 588-acre parcel adjacent to the park which will provide permanent protections against development of an essential natural corridor. OSI said it will retain ownership of the property for several years before transferring it to the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism with an eye to expand Kings Mountain State Park.
“By expanding Kings Mountain State Park, we are enhancing access to nature while preserving intact green corridors, wetlands, and wildlife habitat in a part of the Southeast experiencing rapid growth,” said Nate Berry, OSI’s chief land protection officer, in a statement announcing the acquisition.
This is a continuation of OSI’s conservation efforts around the park and follows the 2024 acquisition of nearly 50 acres to fill a critical conservation gap at the park. The latest parcel contains a mix of forests, rolling pastures, wetlands, and streams that support biological diversity and water quality.
The property transaction was facilitated by the Arizona-based Land Advisors Organization through its South Carolina office.
Essential funding support was provided by the South Carolina Conservation Bank, which identified the property as a high-priority conservation target. Additional funding was provided by the Green South Foundation.
