Landscape architecture faculty team with SCDNR to design a clean future for Bald Rock

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September 6, 2022September 6, 2022

Bald Rock Heritage Maintain is properly regarded to Upstate locals for two issues: spectacular views and rampant graffiti.

“While hiking, images and wildlife viewing are compatible employs of the house, the community at present engages with it in damaging methods this kind of as graffiti, litter, reducing down trees for firewood and trampling patches of vegetation on the rock outcrop,” stated Austen Attaway, a heritage protect biologist for the South Carolina Department of Pure Means (SCDNR).

SCDNR acquired the home in 2001 to protect its significant geographic functions and rare plant lifetime, Attaway explained. Now the agency is developing a grasp strategy to handle the mismatch amongst the preserve’s meant reason and the way it is presently handled.

It’s a challenge that requires a design option, one particular which the landscape architecture college in Clemson University’s University of Architecture are educated to address.

“We’re on the lookout at how do we alter Bald Rock from getting a vacation spot for graffiti to getting a destination for currently being outside with your loved ones and pals,” claimed Paul Russell, associate professor of landscape architecture at Clemson. He is primary a staff of landscape architects—including faculty associates Matthew Nicoletti and Lara Browning as effectively as graduate student Annie Steele—to seek the advice of with SCDNR on the learn program.

“As component of the land-grant mission of Clemson, this is an opportunity for us to add, collaborate and give again to South Carolina in a way that is one of a kind to our discipline,” Russell famous.

In wanting for answers to boost Bald Rock, the landscape architecture group will overview the watershed scale of the property and evaluate the space to equivalent houses such as Caesar’s Head State Park and Sassafras Mountain. Their target will be to propose the ways in which structure choices such as obtain points, trails and signage can change the ways guests engage with the land.

In addition to input from Clemson’s faculty, the learn program review will engage Good friends of Bald Rock Heritage Perserve, a nonprofit volunteer services corporation committed to guarding and maximizing the web page. The group’s volunteers consistently approach gatherings for litter select-up and force washing to remove spray paint from the acres of uncovered rock on the web-site.

“This settlement signifies the to start with stage towards resourceful and sustainable remedies for the lots of issues that challenge SCDNR’s mission,” explained Susan Jordan, president of Close friends of Bald Rock Heritage preserve. “We are assured that the review will offer created answers to deter vandalism, minimize routine maintenance, empower restoration of plant and animal habitats, enrich the safe community use of the assets and shield and preserve the normal sources.”

The master strategy research is the commencing of a lengthier course of action, and Russell claims the intention for his staff is to be in a position to educate SCDNR as a design client, so that when the time is proper to make modifications at Bald Rock, the agency has the best info feasible.

Users of the group interested in studying much more about programs for Bald Rock or offering responses to the analyze are invited to call Attaway at  [email protected] or (864) 986-6242. People fascinated in supporting Pals of Bald Rock Heritage Preserve’s volunteer attempts can get hold of them at [email protected].