SCE&G and the Palmetto Conservation Foundation are pleased to announce the completion and renaming of a major trestle that connects the Peak to Prosperity passage of the Palmetto Trail. The trestle, located along Broad River Road near Peak, S.C., has been renamed the SCE&G trestle and will be maintained through the company’s sponsorship of the Palmetto Trail.
The Peak to Prosperity Passage is the newest and most popular passage of the Palmetto Trail due to its accessibility to the Midlands population and the beauty of the trail, especially over the Broad River. The trail runs from Alston on the banks of the Broad River in Fairfield County through Newberry County just short of Prosperity. Two attractive trailheads at Pomaria and Alston provide plenty of parking as well as camping, picnicking and canoe access at Alston.
“SCE&G is committed to the communities we serve, and we’re proud to support the Palmetto Trail – a unique project that not only supports conservation, but also showcases the rich culture, history and geography of our state,” said Therese Griffin, SCE&G’s manager of marketing and philanthropy.
SCE&G provided funding for the completion of the trestle. Local volunteers, including current and retired SCE&G employees, decked and installed handrails along 160 feet of the trestle to make the path fully accessible for those who hike or bike along the trail.
“SCE&G is a prime example of a good corporate citizen,” said Natalie Cappuccio Britt, executive director of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation. “PCF is proud to partner with SCE&G as we work to complete the Palmetto Trail from the mountains to the sea.”
Conceived in 1994, South Carolina’s Palmetto Trail is the state’s largest bicycle and pedestrian project and will run from the mountains to the sea. A federally designated Millennium Legacy Trail, the Palmetto Trail is the signature project of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation. It is one of only 16 cross-state trails in the United States.
With nearly 290 miles open to the public, the Palmetto Trail is two-thirds complete. Built as a series of “passages,” each is accessible for single-day or multi-day trips. The Palmetto Trail features primitive pathways along knife-edged mountaintops and treks through maritime, sandhill and piedmont forests. Other sections are urban bikeways, greenways and rail-to-trail conversions. Two passages include Revolutionary War battlefields.
About SCE&G
South Carolina Electric & Gas Company is a regulated public utility engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity to approximately 664,000 customers in 24 counties in the central, southern and southwestern portions of South Carolina. The company also provides natural gas service to approximately 313,000 customers in 38 counties in the state. For more information, visit www.sceg.com.
About the Palmetto Conservation Foundation
Founded in 1989, the Palmetto Conservation Foundation is a statewide, non-profit organization with offices in Columbia and Glendale (Spartanburg County). Its mission is to conserve South Carolina's natural and cultural resources, preserve historic landmarks and promote outdoor recreation through trails and greenways. For more information, visit www.palmettoconservation.org.
