by Dean Nguyen
An exciting project, Reedy River Meadow, is now underway. Friends of Reedy River, a non-profit conservation organization, aims to beautify two acres of land along the southern bank of Reedy River. The development site is just southwest of Linky Stone Park and encloses a section of Swamp Rabbit Trail. The hope is to transform this area — at present an overgrown and neglected stretch of invasive plants — into a native plant and pollinator haven. In addition to showcasing the value of native plants, the Meadow will help provide a platform for educating the public on watershed conservation.
Early last year, FoRR proposed this plan to the owner of this land, Naturaland Trust, who immediately supported the idea. And they’re not alone in instantly recognizing the value of this project. Individuals were quick to show their interest in the success of the Meadow, as evidenced by the buzz on FoRR’s social media pages. And FoRR already has a healthy list of municipal and nonprofit partners for this makeover:
- Naturaland Trust
- Earth Design
- City of Greenville Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
- Greenville County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
- Greenville County Soil and Water Conservation District
- Reedy River Water Quality Group
- TreesUpstate
- SCNPS
Once complete, visitors will have opportunities to learn about various native plants, walk along scenic paths, and gain access to beautiful views of Reedy River. This project is also expected to improve stormwater management. Reedy River Meadow is currently in Phase 1, which involves cleaning up the site and removing all invasive plants to make way for native species. FoRR is currently organizing a volunteer event for this, which will be announced in the near future on their website and social media channels.
For more information, including the latest updates on Reedy River Meadow and other volunteering opportunities, follow Friends of the Reedy River on Facebook and Instagram.
