Catawba River land could’ve been 1,000-home development. Now, it’ll be 600-acre SC park
A 600-acre state park along the Catawba River close to Rock Hill will allow the public to enjoy a natural preserve and ensure Catawba Indian Nation access to clay reserves vital to the tribe’s unique and internationally acclaimed pottery, officials say.
The Catawba Nation and two other organizations on Tuesday announced land for the park has successfully been acquired.
The South Carolina state park along a mile of the river will be in Lancaster County, across the river from the tribe’s reservation in York County outside Rock Hill, officials from the Open Space Institute said in a statement. The institute had announced plans for the park and preservation of culturally significant Native American resources earlier this year, The State newspaper reported.
The property will be held by the Open Space Institute until South Carolina is prepared to accept the land as a donation, the statement said. No date for the park’s opening has been released.
The property includes more than 150 acres of riverfront and the Nisbet clay pits, officials said. The purchase was made possible by the Nisbet family, who donated most of the land value, the statement said. The family has owned the property for more than 100 years, the statement said.
The Open Space Institute acquired the Nisbet property with funding from the South Carolina Conservation Bank, the Arras Foundation, the Knobloch Family Foundation, Lancaster County and Duke Energy, officials said. The purchase price of the property was not released.
The property at one time was set to be developed into a 1,000-home residential housing tract, but the park will keep public access to nature.
Clay and Catawba pottery
Catawba Indian Nation pottery is known worldwide for its unique style and use of area clay. Members of the tribe have lived in the area for at least 6,000 years.
The Nisbet clay reserves will remain part of the tribe’s culture because of the state park plans, Catawba Executive Committee member Roo George-Warren said in a statement.
“Working with Open Space Institute, the Nisbet family, and S.C.State Parks to ensure this site is preserved and accessible to our artisans while protecting and promoting the natural beauty that surrounds it is an important step in creating a region that honors and protects all of its people,” George-Warren said.
The land acquisition was lauded by officials from Lancaster County, the state and the other groups that worked together.
The property has a bluff along the river, the Nisbet clay vein, forest and many wildlife and plant species.
The announcement comes after the Catawba Nation was awarded a $4.8 million Department of Interior grant in November to preserve and conserve areas on the York County side of the river on the reservation. That federal money will be used to for construction and plant projects, including re-establishing cane breaks of indigenous river cane that are vital to Catawba crafts and customs.
