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The Green Crescent Trail isn’t just one kind of path. It’s a network built from different types of connections. 

Some paths are fully separated from traffic. Others follow roads, move through neighborhoods, or connect through natural areas.

Together, they will form a network that makes it safer and easier to get where you want to go.

To help you know what to expect as the network grows, here are five types of paths you’ll find across the Green Crescent Trail.

1. Separated Multi-Use Paths

Separated, multi-use paths are typically around 10 feet across, designed for both walking and biking. 

In some places, they’re separated from the road by grass. In others, they sit behind a curb. The exact design depends on available space.

But the experience should be the same: a comfortable, shared space that feels clearly set apart from car traffic.

One good example is the new path along Perimeter Rd on Clemson University’s campus.

Another example is the future side path that will be built along Berkeley Drive in 2026.

These are what many people picture when they think of a “trail.” It’s the most complete version of the Green Crescent Trail experience, and when space and conditions allow, it’s the preferred approach.

Why it matters:
Multi-use paths provide the most complete experience, safe, visible, and easy for people of all ages to use.

2. Sidewalks

Not every connection requires or has space for a full multi-use path.

In some areas, especially near downtowns or along existing streets, sidewalks play an important role in the network.

Patrick Square is one current example. Its main street, Thomas Green Blvd, will soon be an important Green Crescent Trail connection between Nettles Park and the Town Center.

The sidewalk is clearly for pedestrians. But the road is slow enough and low enough stress to be shared with people on bikes as well. 

Why it matters:
Sidewalks often provide the most practical way to close small but important gaps in the network.

3. Protected Bike Lanes

In areas where people are moving along busier roads, protected bike lanes create a separate space for biking that feels safe and usable for more than just experienced riders.

Unlike a simple painted stripe, protected bike lanes include some form of separation from traffic, whether that’s a buffer, curb, or physical barrier.

They’re often paired with sidewalks, so that pedestrians and cyclists each have their own space, working together as a complete corridor.

Future improvements to College Ave. in Downtown Clemson will be an example of this type of Green Crescent Trail.

Conceptual drawing from the 2017 Downtown Corridor StudyWhy it matters:
Protected bike lanes make biking accessible to everyday people, not just the most confident riders, and help create continuous, usable routes through busier parts of the community.

4. On-Street Connections (Bicycle Boulevards)

Some of the most important links in the Green Crescent Trail don’t look like trails at all.

They’re regular streets, designed to work better for people walking and biking.

Often called bicycle boulevards or low-stress connections, these routes rely on slower speeds, lighter traffic, and thoughtful design to create a comfortable environment.

They help connect neighborhoods to larger trail segments without requiring new construction.

The current example of this type of connection is Rippleview St and Brooks St in Clemson, which were part of the first Green Crescent Trail segment in the City of Clemson.

Why it matters:
On-street connections are a low-cost, safe way to create a functioning network.

5. Natural Surface Trails

In some spaces, a natural surface path of either compacted gravel or mulch makes the most sense. They’re often found in quieter, more scenic areas.

These trails may feel more like recreation, but they still play a role in connecting parks, neighborhoods, and community spaces.

The best current example of this is the Hall Trail in Pendleton. You can access it at the Jenkins House on Cherry St near downtown.

The Pendleton Historic Foundation and the First Baptist Church of Pendleton each allowed public use of this trail. And local volunteers created it during multiple work days. 

Why it matters:
Natural surface trails expand the network while preserving the character of the land they pass through.

How It All Fits Together

The Green Crescent Trail is a lot like a jigsaw puzzle. It’s got unique individual pieces like:

A multi-use path.
A sidewalk.
A protected bike lane.
A neighborhood street.
A natural path.

But when put together, they create a safe and usable network we can use every day.

What This Means for You

As the Green Crescent Trail continues to grow, you’ll start to see more of these different connections take shape across the community.

Whatever they look like, the goal will always be the same:

To make it safer and easier for you to move between the places you already go, whether that’s school, work, a park, or downtown.

We’re excited about that future of the Green Crescent! Thank you for your support!

Fifteen connected miles do not build themselves. Behind every trail segment are years of planning, budgeting, engineering, and coordination.

Nearly ten miles of Green Crescent Trail segments now exist across Clemson, Central, and Pendleton because elected officials, university trustees, municipal staff, engineers, donors, and residents chose to prioritize safe, connected movement over many years.

What follows are some of the key ingredients that will help our community continue to build toward our goal of 15 miles of Green Crescent Trail network by 2030. 

Long-Term Commitment Required

Trail networks are not built in a single budget cycle.

They move forward through capital improvement plans, infrastructure allocations, engineering studies, grant applications, easement negotiations, and construction scheduling.

Often, visible construction is the final step in a process that began years earlier.

For example, in 2016 the City of Clemson, the Town of Central, Pickens County, Southern Wesleyan University, and Clemson University funded the original Green Crescent Trail feasibility study. 

Also in 2016, Pendleton funded a Walk and Bike-Friendly Community Master Plan.

Now, 10 years later many of those planning seeds have grown into real trails on the ground.

The 15 mile network we want to see by 2030 will only come if we continue to prioritize it right now and each year moving forward.

Town and Gown Partnerships

The Green Crescent Trail runs through three municipalities and three university campuses. Each operates independently.

Cities such as Clemson, Central, and Pendleton have elected councils and professional staff who guide policy and approve infrastructure investments.

Clemson University, Southern Wesleyan University, and Tri-County Technical College are governed by boards of trustees and administrative teams responsible for campus planning and mobility systems.

Advancing a trail connection across a university campus is often very similar to advancing one across a city corridor. It requires:

• Leadership approval
• Budget alignment
• Facilities planning
• Cross-department coordination
• Integration with broader mobility strategies

Universities are not simply destinations on the map. They are infrastructure owners and decision-makers, just like cities.

So when cities and campuses move in the same direction, small connections can unlock major regional impact.

The Role of State and Regional Agencies

Many of the corridors that matter most for connectivity are controlled by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT).

For example in Central in 2026, the SCDOT is administering the construction of a Green Crescent Trail path along Hwy 93 between downtown (the Caboose) and Tarrant St near SWU’s campus.

And regional transportation agencies plan and distribute a large amount of federal and state funds for transportation projects. In our case this is ACATS (Anderson-Clemson Area Transportation Study).

But beyond funding, trail segments often move forward when timing and opportunities align.

For example, the SCDOT’s scheduled resurfacing project on Berkeley Drive in Clemson created a window to add a sidepath and improve crossings. 

And the 2023 Clemson University Perimeter Road improvement project created an opportunity to extend the Green Crescent Trail on campus. 

When coordination happens early, it can:

• Reduce construction costs
• Minimize disruption
• Accelerate delivery by aligning with existing timelines

These moments do not happen by accident. They happen when institutions communicate consistently and plan with shared awareness.

That is how trail segments move from idea to construction.

How Trails Are Funded

Trail projects rarely rely on a single funding source. Instead, they are typically built through layers of investment that come together over time.

Local investment

• Municipal capital budgets
• Infrastructure allocations

State and federal grants

• General assembly funding
• Transportation safety funding
• Recreational trail programs

Institutional investment

• Campus improvements
• Facilities upgrades

Private and philanthropic support

• Foundation grants
• Corporate sponsorships
• Individual donations

In many cases, local dollars unlock grants through required matching funds. And grants accelerate timelines. 

Over time, these coordinated investments lead to the trails you see.

Slow Work, Real Momentum

The pace of trail progress has been frustrating at times for many supporters of the Green Crescent Trail.

Why does it take so long?

Funding cycles vary. Easements require negotiation. Engineering takes time. Construction windows can be narrow.

Infrastructure moves deliberately because it must be safe, durable, and coordinated across multiple institutions.

But the momentum behind the Green Crescent Trail is real.

Several new trail segments are funded, under design, or positioned to move forward in 2026. The coming year is likely to bring more visible trail progress than any year in the past, built on years of coordination already underway.

Long-term infrastructure moves forward in waves. What becomes visible tomorrow is shaped by decisions made today.

A Shared Effort

The 15×30 campaign is not simply a construction goal. It is a coordination goal.

It asks cities, universities, state agencies, donors, businesses, and residents to move in the same direction over time.

When that happens:

• Students move more safely between housing and campus.
• Families reach parks and schools with greater confidence.
• Downtowns become easier to access without increasing congestion.
• Neighborhoods feel less isolated from one another.

Fifteen miles by 2030 is achievable.

But it gets built the same way every segment has been built so far … through steady partnership, disciplined planning, and long-term commitment.

That is the work behind the Green Crescent Trail. 

Thanks for your support!

You may have heard us talk about the 15×30 Campaign, or seen the phrase “15 miles by 2030.”

But what does that actually mean?

Is the Green Crescent one long trail?
A single construction project?
Something like the Swamp Rabbit Trail?
Not exactly.

In this article, I want to clarify what 15×30 includes, how the pieces fit together, and what kind of Green Crescent Trail network is being built across Clemson, Central, and Pendleton.

A Simple Definition

At its core, 15×30 is the plan to connect Clemson, Central, and Pendleton, along with three university campuses, into a safer, more usable trail network by 2030.

That network is designed for everyday life. Walking to school. Biking to class. Getting to a park. Moving between downtowns. Connecting neighborhoods to places people already go.

It is not a single rail trail.
It is not one continuous off-street path.
And it is not starting from scratch.

A Network, Not a Single Trail

One of the most important things to understand about the Green Crescent Trail is that it’s a network.

That means it’s made up of different types of facilities working together as one system:

• Separated multi-use paths
• Side paths along roads
• Low-stress neighborhood streets
• Some upgraded sidewalks
• Some on-street bike facilities, where appropriate

You can think of it as a tapestry rather than a single thread.

This approach isn’t a compromise. Our communities are already built. Roads, neighborhoods, campuses, and waterways shape what’s possible. 

A connected network allows progress where opportunities exist, while still improving safety and comfort over time.

What Counts Toward the 15 Miles

The 15 miles in the 15×30 goal are not defined by one design type.

They are defined by usefulness. A mile counts if it:

• Helps people safely move between meaningful places
• Contributes to a continuous, legible route
• Strengthens the overall connectivity of the system

Some miles will feel like traditional greenways. Others will feel more downtown or campus-oriented. Many will continue to improve with better crossings, signage, and design upgrades.

The goal is not uniformity. The goal is safe, connected movement.

Where We’re Starting Today

The Green Crescent Trail already exists in pieces.

Today, there are nearly ten miles of trail segments across the area that people can use. Some are well known and heavily used. Others are easy to miss. Most don’t yet feel like part of a single, intuitive system.

That gap between “existing” and “easy to understand and use” is part of what 15×30 is meant to address.

Building new trail matters. But making what already exists work better together via signage, trailheads, and maps matters just as much.

Why Connection Is the Core Idea

Every trail segment is valuable. Many were hard-won and took years of effort.

At the same time, a mile of trail creates the most value when it connects us to places we want to go.

Connections multiply usefulness. A short link can:

• Complete a safe route to school
• Bridge a gap between a neighborhood and a park
• Turn two isolated segments into a daily transportation option

This is why 15×30 focuses on closing gaps and stitching segments together, not just adding mileage in isolation.

How to Read the Map

If you’ve looked at the 15×30 map, you may notice something important: it shows more than 15 miles of trail. That’s intentional.

The map shows:

• What’s open and usable today
• What’s realistically planned or feasible by 2030
• The broader shape of a network that will continue evolving

The 15-mile goal lives inside that larger picture. It focuses effort on the connections that matter most, without pretending the future is perfectly predictable.

You don’t need to understand every line on the map to understand the vision. What matters is the direction: toward a safer, more connected network.

What This Sets Up Next

This article is about orientation.

In the weeks ahead, we’ll explain:

• The values guiding 15×30
• How trails are designed to be safe and accessible
• What it takes to fund and build a connected network

For now, the key idea is simple:  15×30 is about turning individual trail segments into a system that works.

And that work is already underway.

Join the Conversation

15×30 is a community effort, and this rollout is meant to be a dialogue.

What questions do you have after reading this?
Is there a place you’d love to see better connected, or part of the map you’d like us to explain more clearly?

If you’re reading this on our website, you’re welcome to leave a comment below.
You can also reach out anytime through our contact page:
https://www.greencrescenttrail.org/contact/

Your questions and feedback help shape what we share next.

In 2014, I attended a community meeting about the City of Clemson’s comprehensive plan.

Like most people in the room, I talked about how much I loved living here.

The sense of community.
The natural beauty.
The energy that comes from being a university town.

Clemson is a special place.

But there was also a shared frustration.

Despite how much we loved our community, we all agreed on something uncomfortable but obvious.

It was unsafe and difficult to walk or bike in many parts of our town.

It Started at a Community Meeting

At some point during the meeting, I raised my hand and asked the city planner a simple question.

“Is anyone actually working on this?”

Her name was Jennifer Folz, and her answer changed everything for me.

She told me about a group of Clemson University students who had been working on an idea called the Green Crescent Trail.

Their vision was simple but powerful.

A connected network of safe paths linking neighborhoods, parks, schools, downtowns, and natural spaces across our community.

It wasn’t a finished plan. It wasn’t funded. And it wasn’t widely known.

But I was instantly convinced that it was exactly the kind of idea our community needed.

An Idea That Wouldn’t Let Go

A few of us who heard about the Green Crescent Trail couldn’t let it go.

We started meeting informally.

Those meetings slowly turned into something more organized.

Eventually, they became a nonprofit.

And over time, that early idea turned into real trails you can walk, run, and ride on today.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Where I Walk, Run, and Bike Today

These days, I walk or run on Berkeley Drive almost every day.

It’s close to my house.
It’s familiar.
It’s become part of my routine.

And soon, the City of Clemson will soon be constructing a separated Green Crescent Trail along the side of Berkeley Drive.

When I want to slow down, my favorite places to walk are the South Carolina Botanical Garden and the Clemson University Forest.

Those natural spaces are true gems.

We are incredibly lucky to have them woven into our community.

When I bike, my favorite spot is the Southern Wesleyan University bike trail.

It’s approachable.
It’s fun.
It’s welcoming.

You don’t have to be an expert.

You just get to enjoy being outside.

I’ve lived in many parts of our community over the years.

As a student at Clemson University.
In Central when I graduated.
And now, in the City of Clemson.

Each place gave me a slightly different perspective.

But I always had the same underlying appreciation for what this area could be.

Why the Green Crescent Trail Matters So Much

That’s why I believe the Green Crescent Trail is the most important public project of our generation.

Not because it’s flashy.
And not because it’s just about trails.

The Green Crescent Trail matters because it improves public health by giving people low-cost, easy access to movement.

It strengthens local businesses and tourism. Just as trails have done in places like Greenville, Travelers Rest, and Easley.

It creates everyday moments of connection. Neighbors bumping into each other in real life.

It helps ease the growing pains we’re experiencing as small towns become small cities.

And it preserves the character that makes people want to live here in the first place.

It builds a transportation network that doesn’t require a car for every single trip.

I’ve never seen another project that can positively impact almost everyone in our community in so many different ways.

That’s why I’m involved.

And that’s why I care so deeply about seeing this vision continue to take shape.

This Is How Change Actually Happens

The Green Crescent Trail didn’t start with a big announcement.

It didn’t start with a major donor.

It started with a simple question at a community meeting.

And with people who cared enough to keep showing up.

If you’ve ever walked a trail, felt safer crossing a street, or simply enjoyed seeing people out moving and connecting, you’re already part of this story.

If this story resonates with you, there are many simple ways to support the Green Crescent Trail.

You can share our updates.
Show up to community meetings.
Walk the trail.
Tell a friend why it matters to you.

This project has always moved forward because regular people cared enough to get involved.

We’re grateful to have you alongside us.

— Chad Carson
Founding Board Member
Friends of the Green Crescent