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The South Carolina’s Piedmont landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. As neighborhoods expand and development continues to replace former agricultural areas, the natural landscapes that once defined our region – longleaf pine groves, hardwood forests and savannas – are becoming harder to find. Growth brings opportunity, but it also places pressure on the environment; rising summer temperatures, declining air and water quality and fewer habitats for wildlife, to name a few. 

One of the most visible impacts is the Urban Heat Island effect, when pavement and rooftops trap heat and make city and suburban neighborhoods significantly hotter than surrounding areas. This extra heat not only increases the risk of illness for humans, but also raises energy costs for families and strains local power grids during the hottest months. 

Why Trees Matter 

Fortunately, nature gives us one of the best tools for addressing these challenges: trees. 

Trees are more than a backdrop to our daily lives. They are living infrastructure – supporting cleaner air and water, providing shade and creating healthy spaces for people and wildlife alike. 

Some of the many benefits include: 

• Climate regulation and cooling. Mature trees can lower air temperatures by nearly 10°F, providing natural shade and reducing the need for energy-intensive cooling. 

• Improving air quality. Trees capture carbon and filter pollutants, improving respiratory health and reducing greenhouse gas concentrations. 

• Protecting water and soil. Tree roots stabilize soil, reduce erosion and filter stormwater runoff, which in turn prevents flooding, protects water quality and replenishes groundwater systems.  

• Creating biodiversity and habitat. Native trees provide food and shelter for birds, pollinators and countless other species that keep ecosystems thriving. 

Honoring a Legacy of Stewardship 

This year holds special meaning for the Greenway. In addition to celebrating our 30^th anniversary, we celebrate our founder Anne Springs Close, who would have turned 100 in November. Her vision was simple but powerful: to create a greenspace and “save a few trees” for future generations. From that vision grew the 2,100-acre Anne Springs Close Greenway we know today—a place of refuge, connection and discovery for people and wildlife. 

100 Trees for 100 Years honors that legacy. Together, we will plant 100 native trees across the Greenway—not only as a tribute to Ms. Close, but as a living investment in the health of our community. Each tree planted represents: 

• Cooler neighborhoods and reduced risk from extreme heat. 

• Expanded habitat corridors for wildlife. 

• A stronger, healthier environment for generations to come. 

A Living Tribute 

By planting trees, we’re carrying Ms. Close’s vision into the future. The campaign is both a celebration of her legacy and a call to action – a reminder that conservation is about more than preserving the past; it’s about ensuring a resilient future. 

In a rapidly growing region, trees are not optional. They are vital to our quality of life, to biodiversity and to climate resilience. With your support, 100 Trees for 100 Years will grow stronger roots, both literally and figuratively, for Fort Mill and South Carolina’s piedmont community. To get involved, contact give@ascgreenway.org.