The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

There is good news in the SC Southern Blue Ridge — the Jones Gap Expansion Project is 92% complete!

Thanks to the generous commitment to conservation over 150 people have come forward to support the effort to expand Jones Gap State Park in northern Greenville County. We have $156,000 left to raise by June 30, 2011 for this effort and we need your help.

Please make a donation today by contacting Melissa Spotts at 803.254.9049 ext. 43 or mspotts@tnc.org. Gifts can also be mailed to: 2231 Devine Street, Suite 100 Columbia, SC 29205.

The purchase of the 301-acre Jones Gap Expansion Project will expand Jones Gap State Park to the east, going towards Highway 25. Jones Gap State Park and Caesars Head State Park together receives a quarter of a million visitors annually, and its capacity is now exceeded several times per year. The expansion will create an additional access point for the park and the extensive and well-used network of public trails. The property is situated right in the South Carolina Mountains, supporting important habitat for black bears and other wildlife, a mountain stream designated with rainbow trout, an unnamed waterfall and multiple mountain views.

The Nature Conservancy began conserving this property in 2009, and has raised over $1.75 million, including $411,000 raised since January for the third phase of the purchase of the remaining 85 acres.

This project has widespread support in the Upstate community. Please check out the link to Town Magazine and see page 36 that features the Jones Gap Expansion Campaign: http://www.towngreenville.com/issues/2011-june/

We need your help to get us to the top of the mountain so we can complete the purchase of this property by June 30, 2011. Thank you in advance for this consideration to give.