Broad River Greenway

The Broad River Greenway was established in 1994 as a regional park for Cleveland County, NC.This site has been associated with recreation, long before the land was permanently protected. Duke Energy established the Palmer Shoals Canoe Access Area on the Broad River, as part of a FERC licence issued for the Cliffside Steam Station., just upstream. The "Old College Farm Trail" was a popular hiking venue on the adjoining tract of land owned by Gardner Webb UniversityThe RiverRivers have always been of critical importance to civilization but today, we tend to take them for granted. Not only do they provide us with water, they provide a critical habitat for wildlife. The Broad River provided Native Americans with a valuable source of food and water. The river was also an important transportation corridor from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Atlantic tidewaters. Its meandering course and mild currents made travel relatively easy. Below the surface of the water, thousands of species of aquatic life depend on this environment Species range from the predatory largemouth bass to microscopic organisms. Today, the river's importance to natural ecosystems and to our needs is understood more fully. Its scenic and recreational importance is cherished. Major tributaries above the Greenway include the Green, First Broad, Second Broad and North Pacolet rivers. Parts of the river in South Carolina have been designated a "state scenic river".