New Trail Taking Shape in Downtown Central

Another piece of the Green Crescent Trail network is coming together, bringing new connections to the Town of Central!

If you’ve been through downtown Central lately, you may have noticed some construction activity near the Caboose. That’s the beginning of a new trail segment that will become part of the growing Green Crescent Trail network.

And while it may look like just another construction project right now, it’s an exciting step toward making Central a more walkable, bikeable, and connected community.

Connecting More of Central

The new 10-foot-wide trail will begin near the Caboose in downtown Central and run primarily along Highway 93. Along the way, it will connect with the existing trail on Pepper Street, across from Bolick Field, which was built several years ago.

This new segment will extend to the site of the future Central Fire Station, with plans for a future phase to connect to Southern Wesleyan University.

These connections matter. Whether it’s walking downtown, riding a bike, getting some exercise, or simply enjoying time outdoors, a connected trail network gives people more ways to move around their community.

And each new segment makes the larger network more useful for everyone.

Watch the video 

Building Connections, One Segment at a Time

The Green Crescent Trail is about much more than creating places to walk and bike. It’s about connecting neighborhoods, schools, parks, businesses, and other destinations throughout Clemson, Central, and Pendleton.

That’s the vision behind our 15×30 initiative: connecting 15 miles of important trail segments by 2030.

Projects like this one in Central demonstrate how that vision is becoming reality. As individual trail segments are completed and linked together, we’re building a network that will make it easier and safer for people to get where they want to go without always getting in a car.

And we’re creating more opportunities for neighbors to connect along the way.

Thank You, AnMed Health!

We’re especially grateful to AnMed Health, a longtime sponsor of this trail segment, for supporting the development of the Green Crescent Trail.

Partnerships like this help turn plans into progress and demonstrate a shared commitment to healthier, more connected communities.

Thank you, AnMed Health, for continuing to invest in a vision that will benefit our community for years to come!

Follow the Progress

There’s still work to be done, but it’s exciting to see another section of the Green Crescent Trail taking shape.

Check out the video linked in this article for a look at the trail under construction, and keep an eye out for more updates as the project progresses.

Want to follow along as we continue connecting Clemson, Central, and Pendleton?

Subscribe to our email updates to stay informed about new trail projects, upcoming events, and opportunities to get involved.

More trails. More connections. More reasons to get outside.

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A Hidden Gem in Clemson: Discover Tottie’s Place and the New Ashley Dearing Outfield Trail

A peaceful stream, shady woods, and a brand-new trail connection—all tucked away in the middle of Clemson.

What if we told you there’s a little walking trail in Clemson that feels more like a mountain getaway than a neighborhood park? It’s true! And you don’t have to drive into the mountains to find it.

Just off Berkeley Drive, behind Ashley Dearing Park, you’ll discover Tottie’s Place, a peaceful wooded trail that follows a beautiful little stream. With shady trees, the sound of flowing water, and pedestrian bridges along the way, it’s the kind of spot that makes you forget you’re right in the middle of town.

It’s also one of those places that plenty of Clemson residents may have driven past dozens of times without realizing what’s hiding just beyond the road.

Two Trails, One Great Little Adventure

Tottie’s Place has been a quiet neighborhood treasure for years, but now there’s even more reason to visit.

The City of Clemson recently completed the Ashley Dearing Outfield Trail, a new paved loop around the park’s baseball field that connects with the existing park and trail area.

Together, the two loops offer approximately three-quarters of a mile of walking, rolling, and exploring.

That may not sound like a long distance, but there’s plenty to enjoy along the way. You can wander beside the stream, cross pedestrian bridges, enjoy the shade, or stop to explore the little lending library and educational activities for kids.

And because the trails connect with Ashley Dearing Park, you’ve also got a playground, restrooms, and baseball fields nearby.

It’s a great option for families with young children, neighbors looking for a quick walk, or anyone who wants a little fresh air without traveling far from home.

Bring Your Walking Shoes (and Maybe Your Four-Legged Sidekick!)

Want to see what makes this spot special?

We recently took a little tour of the trails with our four-legged friend Angel, who was happy to help us explore!

Not on Facebook? You can also watch the video on YouTube or Instagram.

If you’d like to check it out for yourself, start at Ashley Dearing Park on Berkeley Drive in Clemson. There’s parking at the park, and we recommend entering Tottie’s Place through the gate nearby.

From there, take your time. Listen to the stream, enjoy the trees, and discover a little corner of Clemson you might not have known existed.

Small Trails, Bigger Connections

Here’s something else to get excited about: these trails are part of a much bigger picture.

Plans call for Tottie’s Place and the Ashley Dearing Outfield Trail to connect with the new Berkeley Orchard trails and Berkeley Drive Green Crescent Trail by early 2027.

That means even more opportunities for residents to walk, bike, and move between neighborhoods and community destinations without always needing to get in a car.

And that’s what we’re all about at Green Crescent Trail.

A connected trail network isn’t built all at once. It grows one segment, one neighborhood, and one connection at a time. Sometimes those connections are big, highly visible projects. Other times, they’re quiet little paths tucked behind a park that make everyday life just a bit better.

Both matter.

We’re grateful to the City of Clemson for continuing to invest in places that make our community more walkable, bikeable, and enjoyable for everyone.

Have You Discovered This Hidden Gem?

If you’ve never visited Tottie’s Place or the new Ashley Dearing Outfield Trail, consider this your invitation!

Grab a friend, bring the family, or leash up your favorite walking buddy and explore.

And if you’re already familiar with these trails, we’d love to hear what you think. What’s your favorite little-known place to walk in the Clemson-Central-Pendleton area?

There might be another hidden gem waiting for us to discover.

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More Than a New Trail: What’s Coming to Berkeley Drive

If you’ve driven along Berkeley Drive lately, you’ve probably noticed the construction. What’s being built there is much more than a wider sidewalk.

The City of Clemson is creating a 1.5-mile multi-use path between Frontage Road and Issaqueena Trail, along with a new public green space called Berkeley Orchard Park.

Together, the projects will create a safer walking and biking route, a new place to enjoy nature, and another important piece of Clemson’s growing network of connected parks and trails.

From a 4.5-Foot Sidewalk to a 10-Foot Trail

The most visible change will be along Berkeley Drive itself. The existing sidewalk is being widened from roughly 4.5 feet to 10 feet, creating enough space for people walking, running, biking, pushing strollers, and rolling to comfortably share the route.

The project also includes enhanced crosswalks, ADA improvements, drainage work, and improved parking at Ashley Dearing Park. Those details may sound small individually, but together they change how the corridor works.

Instead of simply providing a narrow sidewalk beside a busy road, Berkeley Drive will become a much more useful route connecting neighborhoods, Clemson Elementary, Clemson Park, Ashley Dearing Park, and other parts of the Green Crescent Trail network.

A New 4.36-Acre Park Along the Way

The trail will also lead to something completely new. At the corner of Berkeley Drive and Issaqueena Trail, the City is developing Berkeley Orchard Park, a roughly 4.36-acre property acquired in part with support from the South Carolina Conservation Bank.

The City’s vision goes beyond a traditional neighborhood park. Plans call for native plantings, decorative fruit trees, access to Rock Creek, reflection areas, benches, parking, and spaces designed for nature play and exploration. Construction documents also include details such as a water sensory play area, boulders, six benches, drinking-water features, and a pet fountain.

The City has described the broader vision as an urban oasis for wildlife and passive recreation, with an emphasis on preserving green space in a part of Clemson where development is increasingly dense. That may ultimately be one of the most interesting parts of the project. Berkeley Orchard won’t simply be somewhere the trail passes through. It will be a destination of its own.

Restoring Nature While Creating Access

There is also an environmental restoration component that is easy to miss if you only see the road construction. The City has already removed the house that previously sat on the property within the floodplain. The project also includes extensive native landscaping, improved water infrastructure, and natural gathering and reflection areas near Rock Creek.

City sustainability discussions have emphasized a more nature-based approach to managing the property, including reducing reliance on herbicides and fossil fuels. So this project is doing two things at once: creating better access for people while improving and preserving an important pocket of natural space.

Another Link in a Bigger Network

For Friends of the Green Crescent, that last piece is especially important.

This is a City of Clemson project, funded and constructed by the City. Our organization isn’t building it. But it illustrates exactly what a connected trail network can become when communities incorporate walking and biking infrastructure into larger park, road, and public-space projects.

The Berkeley Drive corridor will connect into existing portions of the Green Crescent Trail and help build toward a larger network vision linking Clemson’s city parks with Clemson University and, eventually, Nettles Park, Patrick Square, Pendleton, and Central.

Some of those connections already exist. Others still need easements, funding, design, or construction. But every completed link makes the entire system more useful. A trail becomes much more valuable when it takes you somewhere you actually want to go. And in this case, Clemson is creating both the route and a new destination.

That’s why what’s happening along Berkeley Drive is worth watching. It’s not simply a wider sidewalk.

It’s a new trail, a new park, safer crossings, restored green space, and another step toward a Clemson area where more of the places we use every day are connected on foot and by bike.

The City currently expects the project to be completed in early 2027, weather permitting.

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5K Race Recap: 258 Runners, 32 Sponsors and One Bright Night on the Trail

A Big Night for the Green Crescent Trail

What happens when you put more than 250 runners and walkers on the trail at dusk, add some lights, a little friendly competition and a community that believes in building better connections?

You get the first-ever Light the Trail 5K & Fun Run, presented by Indigo Advisors & Partners.

On Thursday, September 17, the Clemson-Central-Pendleton community came together for an evening that was about much more than finishing times. We celebrated the Green Crescent Trail, enjoyed being outside together and built momentum for a safer, healthier and more connected community.

And for a first-year event, you all showed up in a BIG way.

By the Numbers

The inaugural Light the Trail 5K & Fun Run welcomed 258 participants and received support from 32 sponsors.

Together, those sponsors contributed at least:

  • $9,400 in cash sponsorships
  • $5,100 in donated goods and services

That generosity helped turn an idea for a community 5K into a pretty special night on the trail.

And yes, there was also a race to run — and there were some seriously fast feet out there.

And the Winners Are…

Our overall male winner was 15-year-old Dyer Partridge of Clemson, who crossed the finish line in an impressive 17:20. Nicholas Tomlinson of Central finished second in 17:52, followed by Martin Tiller of Clemson in 18:04.

On the women’s side, Victoria Hammersmith of Greenville took the overall female title with a time of 18:15. Morgan Davis of Pendleton finished second in 20:05, with Mary Limber of Pendleton close behind at 20:09.

Congratulations to our winners — and to every person who ran, walked, cheered, volunteered, sponsored or otherwise helped bring the evening to life.

The Bigger Finish Line

One of our favorite things about the Light the Trail 5K was seeing so many different parts of our community together in one place.

Because that’s really what trails are all about.

Yes, trails give us places to run, walk, bike and exercise. But they also give kids safer ways to get around. They give neighbors places to bump into one another and families somewhere to take an evening walk. They connect neighborhoods, schools, businesses, parks and communities.

For one night, the Light the Trail 5K gave us a glimpse of what can happen when we make trails not just a way to get somewhere, but a place to come together.

And that’s a big part of the vision behind the Green Crescent Trail.

Our 15×30 Vision is working toward 15 connected miles of trail across Clemson, Central and Pendleton by 2030. Events like Light the Trail help introduce more people to that vision and build the community support needed to keep moving it forward.

Thank You for Lighting the Trail

To our 32 sponsors, our volunteers, our participants and everyone who worked behind the scenes: THANK YOU.

You took a brand-new idea and helped make the first Light the Trail 5K & Fun Run a success.

Most importantly, you reminded us what is possible when a community comes together around a shared vision for better connections.

Want to help us keep the momentum going? Share the Green Crescent Trail with a friend or neighbor who would love to see more trails, more connections and more events like this in our community.

Every new person who discovers the trail makes this movement a little stronger.

Here’s to many more miles — and many more nights together on the trail.

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Community Support Makes the Light the Trail 5K Possible

The Light the Trail 5K & Fun Run, presented by Indigo Advisors and Partners, is almost here, and before we make our way to the starting line, we want to recognize the incredible businesses, organizations, and community partners helping make this event possible.

Every sponsor represented below has chosen to invest in more than a race. They’re investing in the Green Crescent Trail and our vision for a safer, healthier, and more connected community.

Proceeds from the Light the Trail 5K support the Green Crescent Trail 15×30 Vision—our goal to create 15 connected miles of trail throughout Clemson, Central, and Pendleton by 2030. Sponsor support helps us continue working toward trail connections and amenities that make walking, running, biking, and simply getting around our communities safer and more enjoyable.

We are especially grateful to Indigo Advisors and Partners, our presenting sponsor, and to every sponsor who stepped forward to support this year’s event. From local businesses and professional organizations to community partners, their generosity demonstrates what can happen when a community comes together around a shared vision.

We encourage you to take a look at the sponsors below—and when you have the opportunity, support the businesses and organizations that support the Green Crescent Trail.

To all of our 2026 sponsors: thank you for helping us connect our communities, one mile at a time.

We’ll see you at the starting line on September 17!

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15×30 Update: Berkeley Drive breaks ground soon

Hey Green Crescent Trail friends,

Below is a quick update on progress towards our community’s goal of 15 miles of connected Green Crescent Trail by the year 2030 (aka 15×30).

Things are still moving forward!

🛠️ Under construction

Downtown / College Ave Streetscape (City of Clemson). Construction began in March and continues as of early July to make wider sidewalks, raised crosswalks, and other pedestrian-friendly spaces.

Right now the city has completed work on the Tiger Sports Shop / Tigertown side of the road and has moved to the opposite side (TDs/Loose Change).

Here are a few July 1st update pictures from the City of Clemson:


📋 In the works

Hwy 93 Sidepath (Town of Central). In March, the SC Department of Transportation approved a $589,302 bid from Southern Concrete & Construction to build this section of the Green Crescent Trail.

Per their contract, construction should be complete by November 30, 2026, and we’re hoping it will begin this summer.

This is a 0.635-mile sidepath connecting downtown Central to Tarrant St at the future Central Fire Station. We hope a future project will also connect to the campus of Southern Wesleyan University.

You can see a Facebook video update we made recently: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1J6Wd2qxpt/

Berkeley Drive / Berkeley Orchard (City of Clemson). Construction is due to begin on this segment any day now in early July. 

On May 18th City Council voted to approve a contractor bid for the 1.5-mile sidepath between Frontage Rd and Issaqueena Trail. This will connect Clemson Elementary and Clemson Park to a new loop and green space called  Berkeley Orchard (corner of Issaqueena Trail and Berkeley Drive). 

You can see a short Facebook video update on this segment here: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1Bchr13bQJ/ 

Green Crescent Trail Signage Plan (network-wide). We are still awaiting final designs from Guerilla Graphix on a unified signage system for trailheads and wayfinding across all GCT segments. 

Once the conceptual designs are finished, we plan to add new trailhead, wayfinding, and concrete logo stamps to existing Green Crescent Trail paths.

🔭 Future Plans

Nettles Park to Berkeley Orchard (City of Clemson). Still waiting on signatures for private easements. If they come through, design and construction can move forward on connecting the Berkeley Drive and Berkeley Orchard paths to Nettles Park.

The Big Picture

Several miles of new trail and pedestrian improvements are scheduled to come online in 2026. This could be the most fruitful year for the GCT in its history!

So with more trails finally being built, our top 2026 priority as an organization is to improve the visibility, wayfinding, and trailhead access of the existing and new Green Crescent Trail so that the network is more user friendly.

We’ll share more updates as we get them.

Thanks for your support!

Chad Carson
Founding Board Member
Friends of the Green Crescent

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Title Sponsor Announced: Indigo Advisors & Partners are the title sponsor of the Friends of Green Crescent Trail “Light the Trail 5K”

We’re excited to share some great news!
 
The Friends of the Green Crescent Trail is proud to announce that Indigo Advisors &Partners of Clemson has signed on as the Title Sponsor of the 2026 Light the Trail 5K.
 
Community partnerships like this make it possible for us to continue enhancing and promoting the Green Crescent Trail while creating fun, family-friendly events that bring people together. We are grateful for Indigo Advisors’ commitment to investing in the health, connectivity, and quality of life of our community.
 
At Indigo Advisors, helping families plan for the future is more than a profession—it’s a mission. Their team creates strategies that help clients navigate their financial futures with confidence. By combining the wisdom of experience with the continuity of a next-generation team, Indigo Advisors is committed to serving families across generations and building lasting relationships rooted in trust. Their focus on helping people prepare for what’s ahead makes them a natural partner for an organization dedicated to creating a stronger, healthier future for our community.
 
Please join us in welcoming Indigo Advisors as the presenting sponsor of this year’s race. We look forward to seeing runners, walkers, families, and community supporters on race day as we come together to celebrate the Green Crescent Trail and the partners who help make it possible.
 
Thank you, Indigo Advisors, for helping us light the trail forward.
You can sign up to run in the race HERE
Your business can sign up to sponsor the race HERE
Securities and investment advisory services offered through &Partners, LLC, registered broker-dealer and investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC.
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May 2026: Updates on our 15×30 Campaign Progress

It’s been a busy month across the Green Crescent Trail. A new path opened in Clemson, two more are about to break ground, and Pendleton launched a digital walking tour. Here’s where things stand.

Recently Opened

Ashley Dearing Park Loop (City of Clemson). Foothills Contracting finished a quarter-mile concrete loop around the Ashley Dearing baseball field and playground. Connects to existing paths in Tottie’s Place.

 

Under Construction

Downtown / College Ave Streetscape (City of Clemson). Wider sidewalks, raised crosswalks, and pedestrian improvements have been underway since March. Project details from the City of Clemson.

 

In the Works

Hwy 93 Sidepath (Town of Central). SCDOT approved Southern Concrete & Construction’s bid in March. Construction begins this summer on a 0.635-mile sidepath linking downtown Central to the future fire station at Tarrant St.

Berkeley Drive / Berkeley Orchard (City of Clemson). City Council approved a contractor bid for a 1.5-mile sidepath between Frontage Rd and Issaqueena Trail.

Green Crescent Trail Signage Plan. Guerilla Graphix is developing a unified signage system for trailheads and wayfinding across all GCT segments. The goal is consistent navigation across every town.

Future Plans

Pendleton-to-Clemson Connection. GCT and Pendleton Pride in Motion are applying for a Rails-to-Trails grant to fund a design and feasibility study for a new route via Central Rd, a more feasible alternative to the N. Mechanic Street route.

Nettles Park to Berkeley Orchard. Working on private easement signatures. If complete, this connects Berkeley Drive and Berkeley Orchard paths to Nettles Park.

New resource

Pendleton Walking Tour App. Clemson University’s Center for Geospatial Technologies partnered with Pendleton Pride in Motion on a digital walking tour. Available as an interactive app and story map.

 

The Big Picture

The network now has over 10 in-use miles. With Hwy 93 and Berkeley Drive under construction this summer, that climbs to 12 miles. Five miles to go to hit the 15×30 goal.

Still a lot of work to get existing miles signed for easier navigation. But the trajectory is right.

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A Look Ahead (and a Big Year on the Horizon)

Hey Green Crescent Trail friends,

Last weekend, our board gathered for a working retreat.

No speeches. No press releases. Just a room full of people asking hard questions about where the Green Crescent Trail goes next.

A few takeaways I wanted to share with you.

This work has grown bigger than individual trail segments.

We still care deeply about every connection. But much of our conversation focused on the bigger picture:

how walking and biking fit into the long-term health, safety, and livability of the Clemson, Central, and Pendleton communities.

That perspective is shaping our decisions more than ever.

We’re narrowing our focus to unlock bigger impact.

Instead of chasing every possible project, we’re concentrating on the segments that move the needle most. The ones that connect key destinations, improve safety in meaningful ways, and make everyday walking and biking more realistic for more people.

It’s one of the lessons we learned the hard way over the last 10 years!

We’ve been working on something big.

We spent a good portion of the retreat refining a long-range vision that puts real numbers and timelines around what “success” actually looks like for the Green Crescent. It’s ambitious, practical, and rooted in what we’ve learned over the past decade.

We’re not ready to roll it out publicly just yet, but be on the lookout soon!

And 2026 has real potential.

If a few key pieces fall into place, this year could be the single biggest year of actual trail construction in our 10+ year history. Not studies. Not plans. Concrete, asphalt, and new places to walk and ride.

That possibility came from years of groundwork, relationships, and persistence from everyone involved, including from our local government partners and from individual supporters like you.

Your support still matters. A lot.

As projects move closer to reality, public voices, local advocacy, and community buy-in become even more important. Progress at this stage is as much about people as it is about engineering.

We’ll share more soon. For now, I wanted you to know that the work continues, the direction is clear, and the next chapter in 2026 is shaping up to be an important one.

Thanks for being part of this journey,

Chad Carson
Founding Board Member
Friends of the Green Crescent

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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.

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