Anne Springs Close Greenway Celebrates Annual “Love the Greenway Month”
The Anne Springs Close Greenway℠ will celebrate its annual “Love the Greenway Month” campaign during the month of April. The 2,100 acres that make up the Greenway℠ were placed under a conservation easement with the Nation Ford Land Trust to protect the Steele Creek watershed and the land is protected in perpetuity, never to be developed beyond low-impact recreation. “Love the Greenway Month” is an awareness and membership campaign celebrating the Greenway’s mission to connect people to nature through recreational and educational activities while fostering a passion for environmental conservation, animal habitat, and protection of natural resources.
“This time of year reminds me of the incredible natural wonder of the Anne Springs Close Greenway,” said Elizabeth Bowers, Communications & Advancement Director for Leroy Springs & Company, the Greenway’s parent non-profit organization. “As Fort Mill continues to grow, our community finds comfort and familiarity in knowing that this special place is preserved in perpetuity for low impact recreation and as habitat for hundreds of wildlife species. ‘Love the Greenway Month’ celebrates what is true all year long – this is a special place to connect to nature.”
Throughout April, members and guests are encouraged to explore new areas of the nature preserve through self-guided hikes and activities, as well as on-site demonstrations, a photo contest and other programs. A highlight is the extensive Earth Day Celebration (April 19-21). Celebrating the Greenway’s 29th “Earth Day Birthday,” the Earth Day Celebration is a full weekend of opportunities to get close to nature, including a recycled art contest, family-friendly campout, guided hikes, dog demonstrations, lead-line horse rides and much more. The Greenway will also unveil two highly anticipated new amenities over Earth Day weekend: the Mountain Bike Skills Park and the Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm.
Earth Day weekend is free for members and daily admission fees are waived for non-members. A $5 per car parking fee for non-members contributes to the Greenway’s conservation efforts. Guests are invited to see what makes the Anne Springs Close Greenway a celebrated community resource, providing a space for people to recreate and get close to nature in a myriad of ways.
Earth Day Celebration
When: Friday, April 19 through Sunday, April 21, 2024, 7am-sunset
Where: All entrances of the Anne Springs Close Greenway; programing varies based on day, time and location
Cost: Free for members. $5 per car parking fee for non-members.
Schedule of Events: https://www.ascgreenway.org/events/signature-events/earth-day-celebration/
About Anne Springs Close Greenway
Opened in 1995, the Anne Springs Close Greenway is a 2,100-acre natural preserve that offers hiking, biking, horseback riding, kayaking and more, while maintaining a natural habitat for wildlife. Its mission is to provide stewardship and protect the cultural, ecological and scenic features of the land, while also offering recreational and educational opportunities that promote the health and wellness of the community. Owned and operated by the nonprofit Leroy Springs & Co., Inc., the Greenway receives no tax money to build, maintain and operate trails and facilities. It is funded in part by generous donations from individuals and corporations.