• About Us
    • Who We Are
    • History
    • Board of Trustees
    • Staff
    • Reports
    • Impact Investing
  • Grantmaking
    • Apply for a Grant
    • FAQ
    • Recent Grants
    • Sponsorship Guidelines
    • Dr. George Newby, Jr. Community Health Fellowship
  • News
    • Media
    • Blog
  • Conference Center
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • History
    • Board of Trustees
    • Staff
    • Reports
    • Impact Investing
  • Grantmaking
    • Apply for a Grant
    • FAQ
    • Recent Grants
    • Sponsorship Guidelines
    • Dr. George Newby, Jr. Community Health Fellowship
  • News
    • Media
    • Blog
  • Conference Center
Contact Us
Facebook Instagram

Today’s blog is written by Robin Vollmer, Executive Director of Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve.

Hatcher’s Growing Healthy & Active Living Walkways, Pathways, and By-Ways project (Hatcher Project) is dedicated to all the residents in Spartanburg and surrounding counties, to promote exercise on a safe, newly extended walking trail.

The Hatcher Project, provided by a Mary Black Foundation Grant, grew from a pressing need to extend the existing ½ mile walkway located at Hatcher Garden, to include a new ½ mile trail on property donated by the Hatcher family.  With over 40,000 visitors annually, nearly 10,000 being children, and daily jaunts by many local seniors, the development of safer and easily accessible trails for mobility challenged visitors was paramount.  Natural stone seating for resting, and outdoor classrooms for “teachable moments” with school groups and families, were design essentials for Hatcher Garden.

Recently voted by Spartanburg County Citizens as the 2017 #1 Visitor Attraction, Hatcher Garden is a free, public garden, open every day, sunrise to sunset. The Garden offers sheltered picnic areas, ADA compliant restrooms and water fountain, scenic photo spots with creeks, waterfall and flora, and ample places for healthy exercise, rest, rejuvenation, and relaxation along shaded, picturesque paved trails, soon to be a full mile long.

The new ½ mile path is artistically rimmed with antique Camellias, Tea Olives, and Rhododendrons originally planted by the Hatchers.  Presently, with 85% completion of the new trail, it has 2-wheelchair-wide, graded, cleared paths with thick gravel walkways, ready for paving this summer. Panoramic views flow along the new trail and throughout the Garden, providing an aesthetic retreat for all visitors.

This summer, 600+ students, Grades K-5, from Cleveland Academy of Leadership will walk this new trail and our existing pathways, learning about nature.  We welcome them and ALL of you to explore Hatcher Garden’s airy, beautiful, enduring walkways for healthy, active living through exercise, nature study, and reflection!

Click here to learn more about the Hatcher Project and Garden.

info
Previous PostMore than Just a Market…
Next PostThe Franklin School: Early Learning through D...
Recent Posts
  • You Spoke, We Listened: Changes Inspired by Our Grantee Survey (And What Still Needs Work)
  • 2025 Newby Fellowship
  • 2025 Grants Awarded
  • No More Guesswork: Inside Our Grantmaking Decisions
  • Welcoming Our New Trustees
Categories
  • 25th Anniversary
  • Classes
  • Community Health Fund
  • Early Childhood Development
  • Grants
  • Health Equity
  • Healthy Eating | Active Living
  • Uncategorized

About Us

  • Who We Are
  • History
  • Board of Trustees
  • Staff
  • Reports

Grantmaking

  • Apply for a Grant
  • What We Fund
  • Before You Apply
  • FAQ

OTHER

  • Media
  • Blog
  • Conference Center
  • Contact Us

subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe
Facebook Instagram