York County is excited to invite the community to a one-of-a-kind park along the Catawba River. Please join York County for the official grand opening celebration of Catawba Bend Preserve, which will include the unveiling of ten miles of new mountain bike trails, and two disc golf courses.
The grand opening ceremony begins Saturday, October 17, at 10 a.m. with a ribbon cutting, followed by park dedications at 12:30 p.m. The park is located at 4134 Catawba Bend Parkway, off of Neely Store Road east of Rock Hill.
York County purchased 1,900 acres of scenic, undeveloped forests, ponds and meadows at a bend in the Catawba River in 2018. The park had a soft launch in March of this year featuring hiking trails, a Loblolly Pine Grove, ranger-led bird watching, and beautiful scenery, with disc golf and mountain biking launching this month.
York County Parks & Recreation contracted with Ace Place to design and build the disc golf courses, and Nature Trails, LLC. created the mountain biking trails, which feature a skills course and trails from beginner to expert level. At 12:30 p.m., the County will officially dedicate the mountain biking trails and disc golf courses and open them to the public. At that time, Visit York County and its partners will also dedicate an art installation, the Catawba Bend Cross Country Arch finish line for a cross-country meet taking place that morning.
“Catawba Bend Preserve is more than just protected acres; it’s a vital resource for our community. We’re thrilled to honor the hard work, vision, and commitment to preserve green space with the grand opening celebration of Catawba Bend Preserve. At the grand opening, we will be opening up 10 miles of mountain bike trails and an 18-hole championship disc golf course and a 9-hole beginner’s disc golf course; both of which were made possible through state and federal grants as well as local funds committed through York County Council. None of this would be possible without the support from our County Council, County Management, County Staff and our residents. This will be a place for future generations to enjoy and experience the beauty and harmony of nature,” said York County Parks & Recreation Director Katherine Jones.
“We’re celebrating the opening of Catawba Bend Preserve thanks to the dedication and leadership of existing and former County Councils, County leadership and staff, and numerous citizens/organizations in our community who stepped up and embraced a common vision. This beautiful acreage could have been developed. Instead, it’s a vast, protected greenspace that is preserved for everyone to enjoy for years to come. So many pieces of a puzzle had to come together to buy land, establish its purpose, design a park, hire staff, and fund the amenities our citizens deserve. We are proud of what has already been accomplished, and look forward to what’s yet to come at Catawba Bend Preserve,” said York County Council Chair Christi Cox.
Marvin Bouknight is the park superintendent overseeing its development and operations. He’s excited to see the park expand its offerings.
“Catawba Bend Preserve is a special place and many York County residents have already experienced the natural beauty of this amazing park. As we grow and provide more outdoor recreation opportunities, coupled with experiences that will highlight and interpret the natural and cultural resources of the site, York County isn’t just providing another beautiful park, it is providing an engaging outdoor experience for all county residents and visitors, both now and into the future.”
https://www.facebook.com/catawbabendpreserve/
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Associate Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
