PAL creates opportunities for active living and healthy eating for everyone, centered around Spartanburg County.
Our History
Our History is Your History
For the past 22 years, PAL has worked to create a healthier, more connected Spartanburg.
2003
Partners for Active Living is incorporated and hosts Walk to School Day for Spartanburg elementary school students. Today, more than 60 schools participate in Spartanburg’s Walk to School Day.
2005
Step Up Spartanburg launches, a pedometer-based program.
2006
Partners for Active Living holds the first Turkey Day 8K with 60 people registered. The event has since grown to 2,000 participants.
2007
The first Criterium is held with only two tents of spectators. Today, there are more than 100 tents of spectators that attend the race.
Hub Cycle, a bicycle-lending program, is launched.
Spartanburg is named the first bicycle-friendly community in South Carolina by the League of American Bicyclists.
2008
Girls on the Run, a national program to inspire girls, begins in Spartanburg and later rolls off as a separate nonprofit.
2009
With 25,000 annual uses, Partners for Active Living launches an effort to increase usage of the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail. Annual usage is now 200,000.
Partners for Active Living receives the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant to improve childhood obesity rates in Spartanburg County.
2011
Spartanburg BCycle, the first bicycle sharing program in the South, is formed.
All Spartanburg County districts measure student BMI to assess community health needs.
2012
Partners for Active Living initiates South Carolina’s first mobile farmers' market in partnership with the Hub City Farmers’ Market.
The signing of joint use agreements to open school playgrounds in the Spartanburg city limits is facilitated by Partners for Active Living.
The Rail Trail Dog Park is developed with the City of Spartanburg.
2013
Partners for Active Living begins to work with Alliance for A Healthier Generation in four Spartanburg County schools. In 2016, this was expanded to nine schools.
2014
The New Trails Plan is launched to create a network of connected trails and the Woodruff Greenway opens.
2016
Both the Upper and Lower Drayton Trail Segments are opened.
2017
The construction of the Rail Yard, a community park on the Mary Black Foundation Trail, begins.
Partners for Active Living receives the Duke Energy Citizenship & Service Awards from Spartanburg Area Chamber.
2018
Partners for Active Living celebrates 15 years of working with Spartanburg city and county officials, local partners and national organizations to improve both the livability and the health of its community.
2019
The Daniel Morgan Trail System is announced.
Partners for Active Living receives a six year grant from the Duke Endowment for coalition building.
The Spartanburg Food System Coalition is incorporated as part of PAL.
The Westview Extension and Three Creeks Trail segments are opened.
2020
Partners for Active Living rebrands to PAL: Play. Advocate. Live Well. to better reflect the mission.
100,000 pounds of produce are distributed during COVID.
The Vic Bailey Subaru Bike Park opens in partnership with Coalition for Active Youth.
2021
PAL receives the Elaine Harris Tourism Award from OneSpartanburg.
The receipt of a $23.8 million RAISE Transportation Grant for trails with Spartanburg Country is announced.
The Food Hub launches.
2022
The Hub City Hopper & Canopied Trail segments are opened.
2023
PAL, Conserving Carolina and Upstate Forever sign an agreement with Norfolk Southern to purchase the Saluda Grade Rail Line.
The Beaumont Mill Village Pathway & River Birch Trail segments are opened.
2024
The Trees Coalition comes under PAL’s umbrella
Trails Tax Incentive passes SC legislature
Ducan Park Lake opens to the public for the first time since the 1950s
2025
Hub City Farmers Market comes under PAL's umbrella.
PAL and partners buy the Saluda Grade rail line from Norfolk Southern.
Wildflower Way segment opens.
living healthy in spartanburg
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