Gills Creek greenway gets go-ahead

A unanimous Richland County Council on Tuesday gave the go-ahead to a $2.2 million greenway along Gills Creek near downtown Columbia.

But first, they put stronger conditions on the sometimes-controversial proposal to build the pedestrian and bicycle pathway along a portion of the creek.

▪  Before the county would use penny sales tax money to build the 1.3-mile stretch, the county says the city of Columbia must agree in writing to maintain the greenway and provide security.

▪  Council agreed to allow any neighborhood that wants to sign a legal agreement with the county to keep the greenway on the west bank of the creek to do so. Earlier this year, the county agreed to move the stretch from Rosewood Drive south to Mikell Lane off South Beltline Boulevard from the eastern bank to the western bank after some neighborhoods protested. But critics continued to say the county could change its mind and move the path back to the east bank, closer to neighborhoods. The legal agreements would bind the county to the western bank.

This story was originally published June 7, 2017 at 10:18 AM with the headline "Gills Creek greenway gets go-ahead."