Paris Mountain: Gospel Tract

• Location: Greenville County, SC

• Size: 23.35 acres

• Habitat: Mountain, hardwood forest

• Public Use: TBD

• Partners: SC Conservation Bank

• Year Protected: 2018

Paris Mountain is one of Greenville’s most iconic landscapes and is an important source for local and public recreation. To keep up with the demand for public spaces and to protect the viewshed that defines greater Greenville, Naturaland Trust is working to fortify and expand the borders of Paris Mountain State Park.

As our community grows, so must its access to natural areas. Naturaland Trust is working patiently over time to add to Paris Mountain State Park, the most visited natural and recreational park in our region. With over 250,000 visitors annually, its popularity is outpacing the resource. Its borders are limited largely by development and the burden of high prices, making it difficult for the State Park to expand without external help.

With the help of the Conservation Bank, we have protected over 90 acres on Paris Mountain in the last three years. This year, we have the opportunity to add 23 more acres to this effort. The Paris Mountain Gospel tract is contiguous to property that we own, and that overlooks Furman University and the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Over time, we envision a trail system that will connect the back half of Paris Mountain State Park to the western face and the Swamp Rabbit Trail. At $1,500 per acre atop one of Greenville’s most iconic and important natural areas, we cannot let this opportunity go, as this property is integral for expanding Paris Mountain State Park and providing unique recreational opportunities to the public.