Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Conservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Conservation trust seeks city partnership to steward 17.8 acres north of Unity Park
Summary
Carlton Owens told Greenville City Council that the Greenville County Historic and Natural Resource Trust has secured a negotiated deal for 17.8 acres north of Unity Park and is asking the city to join a funding partnership so the parcel can be stewarded as a wetlands resilience park.
Carlton Owens, speaking for the Greenville County Historic and Natural Resource Trust, asked the Greenville City Council to join a partnership to steward 17.8 acres north of Unity Park as a wetlands resilience park.
Owens, a long-time Greenville County resident and natural-resource manager, said the county trust concluded its first five years by helping protect 34 parcels totaling "a little over 3,000 acres," adding that the trust has leveraged local funds to protect substantial acreage. "We've used about $7 million of county money to protect $43 million of real estate," he said.
The proposal Owens described pairs roughly 17.8 acres secured from a willing seller (the Salvation Army) with a city-owned four-acre portion near Long Branch Creek. Owens said partners already committed funding: $100,000 from the county trust matched by $100,000 from the South Carolina Conservation Bank, a $50,000 private donation matched by $50,000 from the community foundation, and he asked the city to consider joining the partnership. "For $120,000, you now steward 17.8 acres at a heck of a bargain price," Owens said.
Owens framed the site as a "resilience park" where natural wetlands would be enhanced to hold stormwater, slowly release water downstream and provide habitat — a different purpose from active neighborhood parks. He urged broader support for long-term land-protection funding, noting a county transportation sales tax being discussed could include funding for green space, transit and other priorities.
Council members responded with questions about the conceptual map, trail type and maintenance; Owens said the proposed trail would be unimproved, intended for nature viewing rather than play fields, and that wetland enhancements would help reduce flooding for nearby neighborhoods. Council members commended the partnership and the role of private and nonprofit contributors in leveraging public dollars.
No formal vote on land acquisition was taken during the meeting; Owens closed by inviting further questions and offering to work with city staff to explore the partnership.
Ending: Council members praised the project as an example of a public–private partnership; next steps would be follow-up conversations between trust staff and city departments about costs, stewardship and possible funding avenues.
