Your Pickens County

By Rocky Nimmons
Publisher
EASLEY — During the Easley city council meeting on Monday, council members had a chance to see the work that has been done on a master plan to make Easley more accessible to pedestrians and bike riders alike.
In a PowerPoint presentation delivered by John Cock, project manager for Alta Planning, Cock showed council the possibilities that the city possessed in redesigning Easley.
The plan states that transportation and recreation are fundamental aspects of life in Easley. The plan will help the city improve safety, access and mobility through improvement to the community’s system of on-street and off-street bikeways and walkways.
The study recommends a walkway and bikeway network that reaches all parts of the city. These improvements include S.C. 93/Main Street. The road would become a key east-west link to Easley’s bicycle and pedestrian network. The main destination on the corridor includes the YMCA and Gettys Middle School.
The plan also provides for a Brushy Creek Greenway. The greenway will provide bicycle and pedestrian access from downtown to the future site of Easley High School. The path will cover three miles and connect neighborhoods along the way.
The plan’s objectives also push to provide safe routes to all local schools. The focus is on safety and physical activity for the youth of the city.
Another key component of the plan is to provide signage for the paths throughout the city to help with navigation.
Committee and council member Chris Mann made clear that the city now has a plan, but not the money to build the nearly $10 million project. The study to produce the plan cost $12,500 and was funded by the GPATS.
In other business, council was reminded of this Saturday’s black history parade. The event will begin at 1 p.m. downtown.
The city also voted the following to city committees, Employee Grievance Committee – Barbara Robinson and Alex Greer; Housing Authority – Dr. Daniel Lee and Jan Crowe; Zoning Board of Appeals – Ken Rackley, Carey Beard, Kim Welborn and La Tresa Gilstrap; Planning Commission – Ray Williams and Jan Robinson; Architectural Review Board – Shea O’Brien, Jennifer McAlister, Allen Fortner and Gretchen Carpenter.