A New Creekside Trail Connection Could Link Nettles Park to the Heart of Clemson

Easements nearly complete for the next major section of the Green Crescent Trail

Proposed Green Crescent Trail segment along 18-Mile Creek — connecting Nettles Park to the Berkeley Drive section and beyond.

If you’ve ever visited Nettles Park, you know it’s one of the area’s most popular destinations – home to sports fields, pickleball and tennis courts, a dog park, playgrounds, and wooded walking trails. But getting there safely without a car has always been a challenge.

That could soon change.

A new trail segment planned along 18-Mile Creek would connect Nettles Park directly to the rest of Clemson’s growing Green Crescent Trail network, making it possible to walk, run, or bike from Nettles Park to Patrick Square and even Clemson University on a continuous, protected path!

A Scenic Creekside Route

The trail will follow 18-Mile Creek, creating a peaceful, shaded connection between neighborhoods, parks, and Patrick Square.

The proposed segment would follow 18-Mile Creek, weaving through a natural green corridor that runs between Issaqueena Trail and Central Road. Designed as a 10-foot-wide paved, multi-use path, it would provide a safe, scenic, and off-road route for walkers, runners, and cyclists.

In the near term, it would connect Nettles Park to the Berkeley Drive section of the Green Crescent Trail now preparing for construction. Long-term, the same corridor could be extended north toward The Grange neighborhood and the new AnMed medical facility being built in Central—forming one of the region’s most beautiful continuous greenways.

Nearing the Finish Line on Easements

For the past several months, Friends of the Green Crescent has been working closely with four local property owners along the proposed route to secure recreational easements. These easements will allow the public trail to cross their land while keeping the property in private ownership.

“One easement has been signed and the other three are in the final stages of approval,” said Chad Carson, founding board member of the Friends of the Green Crescent. “Once they’re complete, the City of Clemson can move forward with final design and cost estimates.”

The City of Clemson is leading the design, construction, and ongoing maintenance of the trail, and may have funding available within its existing budget—depending on the final cost of the Berkeley Drive section. The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) will also be involved to ensure safe crossings at Issaqueena Trail and Central Road.

Why This Connection Matters

Families and runners already enjoy Nettles Park and Patrick Square — this project would connect them safely to the rest of Clemson.

This short section of trail could have a big impact. It would link Nettles Park—and its many recreation options—to Clemson’s broader trail and sidewalk system for the first time. Because Nettles already connects to Patrick Square, the new path would also create a safe, direct way for families, students, and visitors to reach Patrick Square’s restaurants and town center without driving.

In the future, it could become the backbone of a larger creekside greenway extending north through The Grange and toward Central—offering miles of shaded trail along one of the area’s most scenic natural corridors.

Looking Ahead

Every new section of the Green Crescent Trail brings us closer to a fully connected Clemson.

With easements nearly complete and design coordination underway, this project is closer than ever to becoming a reality. It’s not 100 percent certain yet—but all signs point in a promising direction.

As the Friends of the Green Crescent team often says, each new section brings us one step closer to connecting the places we love. And few connections would be more meaningful than this one—linking the city’s most active park to the rest of Clemson by foot and by bike.

Stay tuned for updates as the 18-Mile Creek trail moves from plans on paper to pavement on the ground.