An expanded trails network in Greenville remains a priority for the city in 2025.
Residents and visitors alike walk and bike on the trails every day for exercise, commuting or leisure. According to the city, more than 2.3 million people used the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail last year.
Greenville City Council reviewed current and future projects to further enhance its trail system during its annual retreat Feb. 13. Here’s an update on those projects.
Upcoming projects
Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail Orange Line: The city plans to connect the North Main neighborhood to Greenville County’s upcoming extension of the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail Orange Line. The 18-month design process for the 2-mile trail connector will begin in March. Three route options will be studied and community and stakeholder feedback will be collected. The total cost for the project is estimated to be $5 million.
Wheeled-Sports Park: Planning is moving forward for the city’s first skatepark, pump track and bicycle playground. The $5 million wheel park will be built on approximately 10 acres next to the Greenville Downtown Airport. The city will soon start contract negotiations with a principal design firm to oversee the park’s design. Community and stakeholder input will be collected during the design phase.
Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail Phase 1 upgrades: The city plans to upgrade a half-mile section of the Swamp Rabbit Trail from downtown Greenville to Unity Park. Calin Owens, the city’s capital projects manager for mobility, said it would be a full redesign of this portion of the trail which is the most heavily used piece within the city limits. Some planned upgrades for this section include widening the trail, installing lighting and adding striping. The nine-month design process kicks off in March.
Airport Loop Trail: A feasibility study will soon be completed for the 4.5-mile loop trail spur along the edge of the Greenville Downtown Airport. Owens said the study will look at what the routing would be and what properties might be impacted. The city will release a request for proposals for firms to complete the study in the spring. The total cost for the loop trail project is estimated to be $8 million.
Ongoing projects
Verdae Bridge rendering provided by city of GreenvilleVerdae Boulevard pedestrian bridge: The city plans to begin the bidding process for the $4.5 million pedestrian bridge project over Verdae Boulevard. The bridge would connect the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail Green Line to a new trail extension toward Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research. The city aims to complete the bridge by the second quarter of 2026.
Laurens Road trail spurs: Plans for the three trail spurs connecting the Nicholtown, Gower Estates and Verdae neighborhoods to the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail Greenville Line have been completed. This spring, the city will begin the bidding process for the approximately $2.5 million project.
Cleveland Park pedestrian bridge: The city has submitted a conditional letter of map revision to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a planned pedestrian bridge in Cleveland Park. It is estimated the project will cost $800,000 to complete.
Aspirational projects
South Downtown Trail: Owens proposed a new trail connection under Church Street in the Haynie-Sirrine neighborhood near County Square. This project was also highlighted in the updated Haynie-Sirrine Master Plan and would utilize the existing Springer Street tunnel. The project has an estimated cost of $1.5 million.
Zoo Trail: A 1-mile, paved trail connection could potentially be built behind the Greenville Zoo and connect to Main Street. Owens said there is an abandoned rail corridor the city owns that could be looked at for the trail. The project has an estimated cost of $3.5 million.
Halton Road shared-use path: An estimated 1.25-mile shared-use path could potentially connect the city’s new Public Safety Complex on Halton Road to the Swamp Rabbit Trail Green Line near the Haywood Road bridge. Owens said the idea was first looked at in a feasibility study of the Laurel Creek corridor in 2016. The project has an estimated cost of $2 million.
Overbrook bike lanes: A project was proposed to redesign East North Street to install protected bike lanes or a protected cycle track. Owens explained this project would help with connectivity from the Overbook neighborhood to downtown and the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail. The project has an estimated cost of $150,000.
Salvation Army Parallel Trail: A new trail segment adjacent to the Salvation Army Kroc Center was proposed at the meeting. Owens said the new trail would provide parallel access to Unity Park and help with capacity needs on the existing Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail connection to the park. The project has an estimated cost of $600,000.
Read more about trails in the community
