The Saluda River The Saluda Shoals Foundation, the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission, and SCE&G have worked together to build Saluda Shoals Park into one of the Midlands' best natural playgrounds. While continued growth in the park's usage and the many educational programs signal a bright future, the partnership is being pro- active in developing Saluda Shoals into a one of a kind experience.

Foremost in plans for the future is Nature's Theatre. Planned as the signature element of Phase Three Development, Nature's Theatre will bring the arts to Saluda Shoals in a unique and unforgettable way.

An amphitheatre nestled into the trees, with a creek winding through the premises, promises concerts, plays, and other presentations in a way never seen in the Columbia area.

Saluda Shoals Park already connects with artistic endeavors in several ways: the spring and fall arts festivals, existing programs, and the partnership with the Musicians and Songwriters Guild of South Carolina. A place to offer those artists a stage to perform, especially one so unique, will provide Saluda Shoals with an unmatched venue for area events.

Saluda Shoals is also moving forward with plans to establish a wetland park within their existing boundaries. The idea is to develop existing wetlands into a usable part of the facilities, complete with shelters, trails, and observation platforms.

An impressive undertaking, the wetlands park will give everyone from veteran hikers to handicapped individuals an opportunity to study and observe existing wetlands and learn how these areas link and preserve natural forests, rivers, and undergrowth.

The third and most ambitious of future plans for Saluda Shoals Park is the eventual linking of the entire Lower Saluda River with the Broad River in Columbia. There are existing plans to make all three Columbia rivers a part of the recreation activities of the Midlands, but so far, each group has confined itself to enhancing a particular river way without getting involved with other groups.

The Saluda Shoals Foundation sees the entire length of the Lower Saluda, from just below the dam, as a part of the park's future. Ownership is confusing; there are personal, industrial, and easement issues. Access is limited and controversial. But the idea still remains.

At the other end of the park, connecting with Riverbanks Zoo property is the long range plan. Another ambitious idea filled with lots of reasons why it won't work, doesn't deter the single- minded belief that a connected system of parks tied together from end to end is the most sensible way to link Columbia's natural water systems together in a way more residents and visitors can use them.

As the citizens of Richland and Lexington counties become more interested in using the existing natural resources so abundant in this area, the possibilities of an end to end recreation area becomes more likely every season.