Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail are raising funds to finish this wonderful project for the community.
After a busy three weeks of construction on the Spanish Moss Trail’s 2.3 mile section between Ribaut and Allison Roads, Trail organizers are actively raising funds to connect the 12-foot wide, paved greenway to the Marine Corps Air Station.
“A couple years ago, the Spanish Moss Trail was just a vision,” said Dean Moss, Founder and Executive Director of the Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail. “Today, the first mile is complete, two additional miles are under construction, and almost four more miles are being designed for implementation.”
Moss said funding has been secured for the first 5.4 miles of the Trail (Ribaut Road to Parris Island Gateway) through gifts and challenge grants from the Cox Foundation of Atlanta, along with the financial collaboration among the Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail, City of Beaufort, Town of Port Royal, Beaufort County, Beaufort Memorial Hospital, and Atlanta’s PATH Foundation.
As local momentum builds for continuing the Trail, organizers are now setting their sights on funding the 1.6 mile segment from Parris Island Gateway to Laurel Bay Road. With a total cost of $850,000 to complete this section, the Cox Foundation has issued another $350,000 challenge grant. This challenge grant was followed up with a $250,000 lead gift from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina Foundation in honor of John M. Trask, Jr. for his service to their Board of Directors.
Only $250,000 remains to be raised in order to complete the Trail from the Town of Port Royal to the Marine Corps Air Station – bringing the community a connected 7 miles of the Spanish Moss Trail in 2014.
“This stretch of the Trail has beautiful water views crossing over the Albergotti Creek Trestle and takes us out to the MCAS community,” said Mayor Billy Keyserling. “Construction can begin as soon as this winter if together we raise $250,000 to keep this Trail growing.”
A total of $600,000 in lead funds from the Cox Foundation and Blue Cross Blue Shield will provide more than a 3:1 match for every dollar given. Donors who give or pledge to the Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail by December 31, 2013 will be recognized in the following ways:
• $1,000+, $2,500+ and $5,000+ will be recognized accordingly on a permanent plaque located at the beautifully restored Beaufort Depot.
• $10,000+ will become members of the Albergotti Trestle Collaborative and will be honored on a special plaque located at the Trail’s scenic Albergotti Trestle.
Tax-deductible contributions from individuals and businesses are being accepted by the Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail (a 501(c)3 nonprofit). To donate, make checks payable to: Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail (P.O. Box 401, Beaufort, SC 29901) or donate online at www.spanishmosstrail.com. For more information, email Executive Director Dean Moss or Public Awareness Consultant Sissy Perryman at info@spanishmosstrail.com.
While private funds are being assembled for the Parris Island Gateway to Laurel Bay Road segment, Beaufort County is in the design and engineering phase for their federally-funded 2.1 mile segment from Depot Road to Parris Island Gateway. According to the County’s Planning Department, plans for construction are anticipated in 2014.
Tax-deductible contributions can be made to the Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail (a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization) in the following ways:
1. Donate online: www.spanishmosstrail.com
2. Donate by Check: made payable to Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail and mailed to: P.O. Box 401, Beaufort, SC 29901
3. Donor cards are available at the following Beaufort stores: Higher Ground (2121 Boundary St), Lowcountry Bicycles (102 Sea Island Pkwy, and Palmetto Running Company (207 West Street)
4. For more information, please visit www.spanishmosstrail.com or if you have any questions, please email Executive Director Dean Moss or Public Awareness Consultant Sissy Perryman: info@spanishmosstrail.com
For more information on supporting the Spanish Moss Trail visit www.spanishmosstrail.com. For more about the PATH Foundation, visit www.pathfoundation.org.
