Do balmy Spring days lead to thoughts of running, jumping, swimming, wading, fishing, camping and hiking with the whole family? We sure hope so! Study after study shows that being active outdoors has many special health benefits. Partners for Active Living is dedicated to improving access to opportunities to be more active outdoors.

The Rail Trail Park is a $1 million 7-acre project that will be an active destination for the whole family at the Country Club Road end of the Mary Black Rail Trail. PAL is raising the funds, and managing the design and construction aspects of the project. This developing park space joins the Rail Trail dog park and the Rail Trail skate park to round out a centrally located multi-activity resource area for residents of Spartanburg and surrounding communities.

The Rail Trail Park will be a great place to spend a couple hours outdoors with the family right in town. But don’t wait for the park to be finished. Check out the outdoor recreation opportunities on the Spartanburg Parks page. Hiking, biking, walking, paddling, fishing, even geocaching are all available close by. If you have a whole day or weekend to enjoy nature, consider visiting a nearby South Carolina State Park. If you are not sure what to do once there, here is an article by the State Park Director Phil Gaines about visiting with children and the “Ask A Ranger” program.

So take a hike…walk, bike or paddle this Spring in our great outdoors.