Editor’s note: This column originally appeared in The (Charleston) Post and Courier.

Last month,  the Greenville-based Naturaland Trust announced the protection of River Falls, a 170-acre tract located along the Middle Saluda River that ultimately will fold into and expand the footprint of Jones Gap State Park.

The property itself is quite impressive, with vistas of both the river and the mountainscape, diverse wildlife habitat and opportunities for trout fishing and other outdoor pursuits. Perhaps even more importantly, it will provide a new access point and much-needed additional parking for the larger park, which currently accommodates roughly 30 vehicles and often reaches capacity within moments of opening.

What makes this project exceptional — beyond the positive land protection and public access outcomes — is that

You must be logged in to view this content.