Conestee Nature Preserve Celebrates Reopening of West Bay Boardwalk

This critical work was made possible by Fluor’s Golf for Greenville charity golf tournament.

Greenville, S.C. — September 16, 2025 — Conestee Nature Preserve (CNP) is proud to announce the grand reopening of its beloved West Bay Boardwalk on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. This moment in recovery comes almost exactly one year after Hurricane Helene devastated the region and left significant damage in its wake.

The West Bay Boardwalk is one of the CNP’s most iconic features, winding through wetlands that teem with wildlife and offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of Greenville’s wild backyard. This section of trail also serves as a cornerstone of Conestee’s educational programming, providing school groups, families, and daily visitors an accessible way to experience the wonders of wetland ecosystems. Importantly, the boardwalk also restores the complete loop of the Yellow Trail, Conestee’s most accessible and well-traveled route.

“This project represents a major milestone in our recovery from Hurricane Helene,” said Erin Knight, Executive Director of Conestee Nature Preserve. “Reopening the West Bay Boardwalk means more than repairing storm damage—it means reopening a doorway into the heart of our wetlands, a place where students experience the wonder of discovery, hikers find solace, and families connect with nature. From this very boardwalk I’ve had some of the most meaningful wildlife experiences of my life, as have many. It’s now built to withstand future storms to provide for such incredible moments for many years to come.”

The restoration of the West Bay Boardwalk was made possible through the generosity of Fluor Corporation, whose 2025 Golf for Greenville charity golf tournament funded the project.

“We are deeply grateful to Fluor and Golf for Greenville,” said Knight. “Their support ensures that our community once again has access to one of the most beautiful and meaningful spaces at the Preserve. Their commitment to helping Conestee and the broader Greenville community recover has left a lasting impact.”

Visitors can enjoy the restored trail, observe the wildlife that thrives in the wetlands, and reflect on the resilience of both the community and the natural spaces that make Greenville special.