SPARTANBURG, SC - What is a rail trail and how do I get one in my community? The answers to these and many more questions can be found in the Palmetton Foundation Conservation's new e-book, A Citizen's Guide to Rail Trail Conversion.

Written by Wyeth Ruthven, a former PCF associate who now works on Capitol Hill, this 32-page booklet can be easily downloaded here. Did you know that in America, there are over 150,000 miles of abandoned and unused railroad tracks with an additional 3000 abandoned each year? The guide explains the history and benefits of rail-to-trail conversions in South Carolina and the law on abandonment and railbanking.

According to the guide, "a rail-trail is preservation with a purpose. It starts with a railroad corridor: the parcel of land containing the railbed where the tracks once lay, and the right-of-way bordering either side of the railbed. A state agency, local government, or private non-profit organization acquires the corridor and coverts it into a trail. This trail can take many forms – it can be paved with asphalt, covered with mulch, or left in a natural state."

"This rail-trail serves two purposes. First, it provides a recreational space for hiking, biking, rollerblading, horseback riding, or other outdoor purpose. Second, the trail preserves the railroad right-ofway for a future transportation use – just in case a railroad is needed in your community once again."

The entire guide can be viewed on the Palmetto Conservation Organization's website.