The trails and greenways of the Hub City Connector
The Hub City Connector is a system of paths and greenways, bicycle lanes, and designated sidewalks through the city of Spartanburg, South Carolina. When completed, the Connector is planned to be twelve miles long and is an effort by the city to improve bicycle and pedestrian access to schools, neighborhoods, universities, and downtown. Several sections of the Hub City Connector have been completed and can be used at this time. The Connector is a project of the Palmetto Conservancy, whose mission is to conserve South Carolina’s natural and cultural resources, preserve historical landmarks, and promote outdoor recreation through trails and greenways.
The Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail is a very popular part of the trail system. This is a two-mile trail through downtown Spartanburg, running from Henry Drive to Country Club Road. The trail is built on a railroad right-of-way formerly owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. When the railroad was abandoned in the late 1990s, the Palmetto Conservancy negotiated with Norfolk Southern to develop the trail for recreational use. The multi-use trail is open to walkers, runners, bicyclists, and skaters.
The Liberty Garden Segment is a 0.6 mile trail that connects the Heart Center at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System with Wofford College. The concrete path follows a winding stream and is a popular lunchtime stroll for students and hospital workers.
Chinquapin Greenway is a 1.6 mile spur trail from the Hub City Connector. It runs along Chinquapin Creek in the northern part of Spartanburg. This section of the trail is open to walkers and runners. The loop trail series includes the Blackberry Path, Fox Run Trail, Green Fern Path, Meadow Creek Loop, Poplar Branch Loop, and Palmetto Trail Connector.
There are two sections of South Carolina’s Palmetto Trail that feed into the Hub City Connector. The 1.3-mile section on the University of South Carolina Upstate Campus meanders through the forest along Lawson’s Fork Creek. The 0.75 mile section of trail at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind on the southern edge of Spartanburg is designed for those with mobility issues. There are eight interpretive Braille signs explaining the types of trees found along the trail.
Many people regularly enjoy the opportunity to exercise and have fun in the different sections of the Hub City Connector. Spartanburg residents eagerly await the completion of additional sections of the trail.