A piece of property set to expand Lee State Park near Bishopville. (Provided/Congaree Land Trust)
Lee State Park, a popular spot for equestrians, is set to get 137 acres bigger after a donation from a nonprofit group.
The donation, finalized last week, is the fourth Congaree Land Trust has made to the 2,800-acre Lee County park in the past two years. It expands the boundaries of the park in South Carolina’s rural Pee Dee region by a total of 490 acres, according to a news release.
“Lee State Park is a beautiful, tranquil place with a rich history and vibrant ecology,” parks and recreation Director Duane Parrish said in the Thursday news release. “In recent years, Congaree Land Trust has helped increase access and transform the footprint of Lee’s special landscape and ecosystem.”
The newest addition is on the west side of the Lynches River, not far from the county seat of Bishopville, a town of 2,800 people.
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The land trust bought the property in June of 2023 using a $173,000 grant from the state Conservation Bank. That was a steal for a patch of land worth $346,000, according to the bank, which doles out money for conservation projects.
“The property provides a scenic buffer along the river and a new access point to the state park,” the Conservation Bank’s description of the property reads.
Situated alongside the Lynches River, Lee State Park is particularly popular for horse enthusiasts, with 23 equestrian camping sites, a stable, and seven miles of designated horseback riding trails, according to its website. Entry to the park is free.
One of 16 state parks created by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the park features four constantly flowing artesian wells, which corps members created by drilling into underground water sources.
Protecting the new piece of land will help mitigate flooding by keeping the floodplain untouched, while also creating more space for people to hike and ride horses, said Stuart White, executive director of Congaree Land Trust, in a statement.
“Through this partnership, we are able to accomplish our watershed protection goals while also meeting the increasing demand for public spaces,” White said.