The Hub City Connector is a system of pathways and greenways, bike lanes, and designated sidewalks through the city of Spartanburg, South Carolina. When completed, the Connector is planned to be twelve miles long, and is an effort by the city to improve bicycle and pedestrian access to schools, neighborhoods, colleges, and the downtown area. Several sections of the Hub City Connector have been completed and are usable at this time. The Connector is a project of the Palmetto Conservancy, whose mission is to conserve South Carolina’s natural and cultural resources, preserve historic landmarks, and promote outdoor recreation through trails and greenways.
The Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail is a very popular part of the trail system. This is a two mile trail through downtown Spartanburg, running from Henry Drive to Country Club Road. The trail is built on a railroad right of way formerly owned by Norfolk Southern Corporation. When the rail line was abandoned in the late 1990s, the Palmetto Conservancy negotiated with Norfolk Southern to develop the trail for recreational use. The multi-use trail is open to walkers, runners, bikers, and skaters.
The Liberty Garden Segment is a .6 mile trail that connects the Heart Center at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System to Wofford College. The concrete path follows a winding stream, and is a popular lunch time walk for students and hospital workers.
The Chinquapin Greenway is a 1.6 mile spur trail of the Hub City Connector. It runs along Chinquapin Creek in the northern part of Spartanburg. This section of trail is open to walkers and runners. The series of loop trails includes Blackberry Path, Fox Run Trail, Green Fern Path, Meadow Creek Loop, Poplar Branch Loop, and the Palmetto Trail Connector.
There are two sections of South Carolina’s Palmetto Trail that are incorporated into the Hub City Connector. The 1.3 mile section at the University of South Carolina Upstate campus winds through forest along Lawson’s Fork Creek. The.75 mile section of trail at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind at the south end of Spartanburg is designed for the mobility impaired. There are eight interpretive signs in Braille that explain the types of trees found along the trail.
Many people regularly enjoy the opportunity for exercise and recreation along the different sections of the Hub City Connector. Spartanburg residents eagerly await the completion of additional sections of trail.
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