The City of Fountain Inn will open the newest section of the Greenville Hospital System Swamp Rabbit Trail this Saturday, August 20^th 2012 at 10:00 AM.  The section of trail is a half-mile paved multipurpose path that stretches from Mt. Zion Baptist Church on Mount Zion Drive and Duckett Street to Hellams Street.  The trail runs along a scenic pond and adjacent to the site of the old Rosenwald school house.  A historic marker will also be dedicated during the greenway ribbon cutting to preserve the old school and teacherage sites that were built in 1929 and 1930.

Currently, the Greenville Hospital System Swamp Rabbit Trail is a 13.55 mile walking/biking trail that runs along the Reedy River connecting Travelers Rest with the City of Greenville. The section opening in Fountain Inn will be the launching point for the southern part of the trail that will eventually work its way through the Golden Strip and connect to the northern section of the trail.  Greenville County Recreation District Executive Director Gene Smith said, “We are excited to get a section of the trail open in the southern part of the county.  The popularity of the Swamp Rabbit is proof that people in our community want safe walking and biking paths.  This is just the start of us being able to provide this opportunity for more people as we continue to implement the Greenville County Greenway Master Plan of 2009.”  The master plan identifies the best ways to implement a trails system that connects all of the municipalities, neighborhoods, parks, schools and other points of interest.  City of Fountain Inn Mayor Gary Long is optimistic about the future of the trail in the Golden Strip.  “We are confident that we will be able to work with the other municipalities and county to get this trail connected to the other parts of the Swamp Rabbit Trail.  I know the citizens of Fountain Inn are looking forward to using this section of the trail as a safe and convenient way to get around our city.  It will be exciting to watch the progress as we work from the south to one day being able to walk or ride our way to downtown Greenville and into Travelers Rest.”

Along with the ribbon cutting and historic marker dedication a short program on the Rosenwald school will be held in the Mt. Zion Baptist Church sanctuary from 9:30 AM – 9:45 AM.  After the ribbon cutting ceremony the City of Fountain Inn Parks and Recreation Department will be having a family 5K bike ride down the trail and through the city.  We will have stops at Fountain Inn Elementary to discuss safe riding practices to school and also a stop at the Fountain Inn Farmers Market.

For more information contact Chris Barrineau at the City of Fountain Inn Parks and Recreation Department, 864-862-4675.