COLUMBIA, SC - An effort to implement a seven-year-old proposal to convert 30 miles of railbed to a trail linking three state parks in two counties was launched Thursday, November 8, when state and local supporters met in Columbia to discuss how to get started.

Ken Driggers, director of the The Palmetto Conservation Foundation, the organization that drafted the proposal in 2000, said that the appeal of creating the "Rails-to-Trails" project is that it connects three state parks (Calhoun Falls, Hickory Knob and Baker Creek) in two counties (Abbeville and McCormick) that have an economic need and are naturally scenic. Portions of the trails would be near lakes Russell and Thurmond. Questions about property ownership, tressel safety, funding, and operation and management have to be answered.

The next step is for Driggers to create a "to-do" list for supporters. A committee will be organized at the first of the year to begin work on the list and pursue the project.

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 Palmetto Foundation Conservation's new e-book, A Citizen's Guide to Rail Trail Conversion. 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.