It might as well be a world away. But just a short distance from downtown Before it was turned into the tranquil preserve you see today, the site had to be prepared. It was also necessary to acquire surrounding properties to preserve the delicate wetlands, keep sediments in place, repair the
A $500,000 grant from the Community Foundation made that purchase possible. Jeff Beacham, executive director of the Conestee Foundation called it a keystone achievement. The grant provided the matching financial support critical [for us] to receive a $1.2 million grant from the SC Conservation Bank to complete the purchase, he said. Development has begun to turn the Forrester Farm property into the main gateway to the park. Ben Keys, a board member of the Conestee Foundation, noted, We will also complete a beautiful pedestrian bridge over the Reedy this fall to connect trails on Forrester with trails on the west side of the river. Also, there will be connections between the park and a new baseball tournament complex. Beacham added, The grant from the Community Foundation was an important vote of confidence in the plan to manage pollution issues and provide a foundation for redevelopment and revitalization of the Conestee community. |