COLUMBIA, SC (April 5, 2021) – The Open Space Institute (OSI), South Carolina State Parks, and other private and public partners today announced a future South Carolina state park and recreational paddling route along the celebrated Black River. With the announcement, OSI and its partners have embarked on a comprehensive, community-based planning initiative that will shape the vision for this transformative public resource.
The new state park, located at the 310-acre “Hinds Canada” property previously protected and donated by OSI to the state, will be the centerpiece of the proposed 70-mile riverfront network of public and private recreational properties. The network, called the “Black River Water Trail & Park Network,” will also include the newly acquired 18-acre Black River Landing property in Kingstree and the OSI-protected Rocky Point Community Forest in Georgetown, with various trail stops and access points in between as the river runs through Williamsburg and Georgetown counties.
To inform the state park and the Black River Water Trail & Park Network, a year-long master planning process is being launched online via the “Connecting to South Carolina’s Black River” Story Map, a multimedia project also spearheaded by OSI. A public survey within the Story Map is available to ensure the Black River Water Trail & Park Network meets the access and recreational needs of communities along the river, while creating nature-based tourism opportunities to boost the local economy. Future public meetings, volunteer opportunities, and additional announcements about the project can all be found on the Story Map.