CONSERVATION EASEMENTS

Spartanburg County is growing rapidly. While growth is good for the economy, it puts pressure on our natural lands. As the area grows, some landowners are looking for ways to protect the integrity of our greenspaces. Conservation easements are one way land protection can be accomplished.

2019 Newletter

Conservation easements are voluntary legal agreements that permanently protect land from subdivision and intensive development. The easement preserves the natural characteristics of the land, and can also offer the landowner substantial estate and income tax benefits. Conservation easements are negotiable and unique documents that match the landowners’ needs with long term benefits to their community.

Conservation easements are:

  • Voluntary: Conservation easements are completely voluntary and appropriate for landowners who wish to permanently protect and preserve the land they love.
  • Private: Conservation easements do not require access to your land by the public- you retain control of who visits your land.
  • Permanent: Conservation easements with SPACE permanently protect land. To qualify for tax benefits, a conservation easement must be made in perpetuity. Although future owners must abide by the easement terms, the land can be bought, sold, and inherited the same as all other lands. A competent title search will disclose the easement to future owners.
     

Flexible Conservation easements are as unique as the land they protect. The easement can be crafted to meet the specific needs of the owner.
 

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Why conserve land?

Why conserve land?

Our natural places and working lands are part of our character as a community. Through thoughtful conservation, we can keep Spartanburg wild while continuing to grow and thrive. Learn more about how SPACE works.

Take a hike, Spartanburg!

Take a hike, Spartanburg!

Cottonwood Trail

The Edwin M. Griffin Preserve (home of the beloved Cottonwood Trail) covers 110-acres around a 1.5 mile stretch of Lawson’s Fork Creek and several feeder streams. The Preserve is home to over 5 miles of natural surface trails and it's newest addition, Wildflower Way, approx. 1 mile of newly-constructed ADA-accessible paved trail courtesy of our pals at PAL: Play. Advocate. Live Well.

Glendale Shoals Preserve

Spend a relaxing day at the Glendale Shoals Preserve and explore approximately 1.5 miles of nature trail located at the old Glendale Mill on Lawson’s Fork Creek.

Upper Chinquapin Greenway

Located on the headwaters of the Chinquapin Creek across from the Milliken Research Center with trail access off of Graham Rd., this lush 107-acre greenway hosts a 2-mile natural surface trail as well as a variety of ferns and other plants, like the federally-endangered dwarf-flowered heart leaf! 

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