Chick Springs Restoration FAQ

Why Chick Springs?

For two centuries, a mineral spring in the South Carolina Upstate drew Cherokee hunters, antebellum planters, Gilded Age tourists, and neighborhood kids on summer Saturdays. The site burned three times, flooded once, and sat behind a fence for a generation. In 2024, the community bought it back. The full story -- from the earliest deeds in 1817 through Hurricane Helene in 2024 -- is told at chicksprings.org.

Taylors TownSquare believes this site is worth preserving, and we're working to restore it as a passive nature park for the community. This page answers the questions we hear most.

About the Property

Who owns the Chick Springs property?

Taylors TownSquare, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014, owns the 8.62-acre property outright. We acquired it via donation in 2024. The property is tax-exempt under South Carolina law.

Can you actually build on this land? What about the wetland protections?

Of the 8.62 total acres, approximately 7.28 acres are under permanent restrictive covenants administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Those acres -- the stream corridor and upland buffer -- must remain in their natural condition forever. That leaves approximately 1.34 acres available for active development.

The majority of the property is permanently protected from overdevelopment by federal law. The springhouse, parking, pathways, and park amenities in our master plan are concentrated in the developable area. Boardwalks, natural-surface trails, and interpretive signage in the protected areas will require Corps review as part of the engineering work we're undertaking now.

What about flooding?

The property sits in the flood plain of Lick Creek. The springhouse has been damaged by flooding multiple times over its 200-year history, most recently during Hurricane Helene in September 2024.

This is why the board chose to reconstruct the second-phase open gazebo design (circa 1885) rather than the later enclosed structure. An open gazebo allows floodwater to pass through rather than battering solid walls. The master plan also accounts for stormwater management and low-impact development techniques.

Can I visit the site?

The site is not currently open for unaccompanied visits -- the terrain and conditions make it unsafe without a guide. We're happy to arrange a guided walk for anyone interested in seeing the spring, the foundation, and the property firsthand. Contact alexr@taylorstownsquare.com.

The Plan

What is the plan for the site?

The master plan, designed by Arbor Land Design (Jason Smit), envisions a passive nature park with a restored springhouse, walking trails, interpretive signage, garden plantings, and connections to the broader trail network. The project is organized into four phases, starting with the springhouse reconstruction and public access improvements.

How much will this cost?

Our landscape designer provided high-level, ballpark cost ranges for the full four-phase master plan. Their general estimate totals approximately $1.7 million, but that is not a fixed price or a contractor's bid. It will be refined through the detailed engineering work ahead of us.

The $110,500 figure in our Existing Conditions Report is the preservation consultant's estimate for one component (the springhouse reconstruction). That is also not a bid.

This project advances one phase at a time, with costs re-quoted at each step.

What are you raising money for right now?

Engineering and feasibility work that must happen before any construction begins:

• Conversations with Greenville County about adding parallel parking on Dan Bull Road

• Consultation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about variances we may need for certain improvements

• Environmental review with Blueline Environmental, the firm that consulted on the original deed restrictions

• Moving from a conceptual master plan to engineering-level drawings for Phase 1

We've raised over $10,000 in donor contributions to date, which has funded the Existing Conditions Report and the master plan. The next phase of engineering work will determine what Phase 1 actually costs.

What's the timeline?

The current phase of work -- engineering, feasibility studies, and regulatory conversations -- is underway now. Once that work is complete, we'll have the information we need to begin fundraising for Phase 1 construction. The full master plan will take years to realize, and we're building this for the long term.

Will the pool reopen?

For a generation of Taylors residents, Chick Springs meant one thing: the swimming pool. We understand the emotional weight of that, and we take it seriously.

The former swimming pool area is part of Phase 3 of the master plan, which envisions converting it into a garden space with an arbor structure. A public swimming facility is not viable for an organization of our size. The pool area will be reimagined as a garden, but its history will be part of the story we tell on site.

Stewardship and Operations

Who is responsible for long-term maintenance?

Taylors TownSquare, led by President Alex Reynolds and a 9-member board of directors. You can see our full board roster on our about page at taylorstownsquare.com.

The Chick Springs Society -- our annual membership program -- exists to build a sustained base of recurring support for ongoing maintenance. Every dollar from Society memberships and the Chick Springs Fund goes into a dedicated account that can only be spent on Chick Springs. Our treasurer (Michael Horne, CPA) manages the account, and our financials are posted on our about page at the end of every year.

We carry general liability insurance through FCI Agency (a local broker) and directors & officers coverage for board members. As the project progresses and the park opens to visitors, we will add appropriate coverage as needed.

What is the Chick Springs Society?

The Chick Springs Society is the continuation of a legacy that began with the Chick Springs Historical Society, which worked on conservation efforts at the site starting in 2005. When that organization wound down, its remaining funds (approximately $14,000) were transferred to Taylors TownSquare as seed money for the restoration. The Chick Springs Society carries that work forward as our annual membership program, with tiers from $25 to $1,000 per year.

The Chick Springs Fund is a separate option for one-time gifts. Both go into the same dedicated account and are tax-deductible.

What kind of park will this be?

A passive, open nature park -- similar to Rock Quarry Garden in downtown Greenville. Visitors will walk the grounds, read interpretive signage, see the restored springhouse, and enjoy the natural setting. Picnicking, school field trips, and quiet enjoyment are welcome.

What about security and hours of operation?

We will work with the Greenville County Sheriff's Department to secure jurisdictional coverage once the park opens. Our intent is dawn-to-dusk hours, consistent with comparable passive parks in the area. Lighting, cameras, and access controls will be designed as part of the engineering work for each phase.

For context: Rock Quarry Garden, a comparable 2-acre passive park with limited street parking, has operated safely in a residential neighborhood for over 90 years.

Is there enough parking?

The current plan calls for adding parallel parking spots along Dan Bull Road, accommodating approximately eight to ten spaces. An on-site parking lot was explored and rejected because it would consume open space and conflict with the federal wetland covenants.

Eight to ten spots is comparable to Rock Quarry Garden in Greenville, which serves a similar-scale passive park with curbside parking. We also have options for overflow arrangements in the neighborhood that we will pursue as the project progresses.

Finances and Giving

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Yes. Taylors TownSquare is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

What happens if you can't raise enough?

Every dollar is held in a dedicated account and can only be spent on Chick Springs. If we cannot complete the full master plan, the funds are applied to whatever scope we can achieve. The phased approach is deliberate -- we are not asking the community to fund the entire project at once. We are asking people to help us take the next step.

How do I join the Chick Springs Society?

Visit taylorstownsquare.com/chick-springs or mail a check to Taylors TownSquare, PO Box 163, Taylors, SC 29687 (memo: "Chick Springs Society"). Memberships range from $25 to $1,000 per year, with monthly giving options at the Sustainer level ($100/year) and above.

About Taylors TownSquare

Who is behind this?

Taylors TownSquare is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a 9-member board of directors including professionals in accounting, real estate, construction project management, small business, and county government. Board members and their backgrounds are listed on our about page at taylorstownsquare.com. Our annual financial reports are published there as well.

Alex Reynolds, TTS president, has been researching the Chick Springs site for nearly 15 years. The organization acquired the property in July 2024, commissioned the Existing Conditions Report in late 2024, and received the completed master plan in February 2026.

Does the site's history include difficult chapters?

Yes. The full history of Chick Springs spans two centuries and includes the stories of enslaved people documented in an 1857 mortgage, the segregation-era pool, and the families who were excluded from a place they lived within sight of. Our interactive timeline at chicksprings.org tells the complete story, including the parts that aren't celebratory. The interpretive signage on site will do the same.

Can I volunteer?

Yes. As the project progresses, there will be opportunities for invasive species removal, planting events, and other hands-on work. Sign up at taylorstownsquare.com for updates, or email info@taylorstownsquare.com.

How can I stay informed?

• Email updates: sign up here.

• Full historical timeline: chicksprings.org

• Questions: alexr@taylorstownsquare.com