EASLEY – The Brushy Creek Greenway plan for the City of Easley is well on its way as Russell Street and North B Street in downtown Easley are complete with road widening and striping for bike lanes.

The Brushy Creek Greenway will provide bicycle and pedestrian access from downtown to the site of the future Easley High School on the south side of the city and potentially as far as the county line. The path would run more than 3 miles and would connect neighborhoods, the current Easley High School and Highway 123.

Christine deVlaming of the Vision 2025 Sense of Place team explained how excited she is about the development of Easley’s Master Plan.

“Russell Street and North B Street look fabulous,” she said. “It’s amazing how this is really coming together. There has been a great amount of progress even since our last meeting. Something exciting is happening right downtown.”

Easley Chamber of Commerce president Kent Dykes said it’s a really exciting time to live in Easley right now.

“With the dedication of the park last week on Pendleton Street and the bike lanes and sidewalk work that is being done, it’s an exciting time for us here. It’s fun to see the progress,” Dykes said

Plans for the Brushy Creek Greenway include having a pedestrian and bike tunnel under SC 123.

Easley also has several strategically located utility easements that could be developed for similar shared use. Easley Combined Utilities easement path is one of those paths.

The idea is that as the Brushy Creek Greenway develops, Easley will be in a great position to attract new businesses to the downtown area and along Hwy 123. Sidewalk cafes along the Greenway are a possibility for the area.

“We hope to put up swings, gazebos, water fountains, a driving range etc. along the way,” deVlaming said. “It’s terrific. I’m so inspired by the progress.”

The group is looking at the progress of areas in the upstate for inspiration. The bike and pedestrian area in Traveler’s Rest has been one that was looked at when making the plans. On May 7, the trial at Furman University will open into downtown Greenville.

“We want to link the cities and have a pedestrian life,” deVlaming said. “I think we will see a rebirth of health and excitement for living in our communities.”

For more information on Easley Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan, visit www.bikeeasley.com.