Cypress Gardens celebrates new family-friendly TRACK Trail

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCBD) – Cypress Gardens opened a new family-friendly TRACK Trail on August 17 at 1 p.m., in conjunction with the 15th anniversary of the Kids in Parks program. The grand opening event coincides with National TRACK Trails Day, an annual celebration of the program’s nationwide network of trails designed to connect children with the outdoors.

The new TRACK Trail at Cypress Gardens offers a range of self-guided activities aimed at turning an ordinary hike into an engaging and educational outdoor adventure. The trail features four brochure-led activities: Flower Power, Pond Life, Birds of Cypress Gardens, and Nature’s Relationships. These activities encourage children to explore wildlife, discover natural and historical landmarks, and participate in fun, physical challenges.

The Kids in Parks program, a project of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, began in 2009 with the installation of the first TRACK Trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville, North Carolina. Over the past decade and a half, the program has expanded to include 300 sites across 18 states, Washington, D.C., and the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. Cypress Gardens is now the 35th TRACK Trail site in South Carolina.

Jason Urroz, the Director of Kids in Parks, expressed the program’s mission: “With each of our TRACK Trails, we hope to engage children in the joys of outdoor exploration. Our ultimate goal is to help families fall in love with nature, so they can recognize the value that public lands hold for their lives and become future stewards of natural spaces.”

The Cypress Gardens trail is part of a broader effort supported by a grant from the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation, which aims to establish at least three TRACK Trails in each of the state’s 46 counties. This initiative aligns with the goals of Diabetes Free SC (DFSC) to promote outdoor activities that improve overall wellness.

Attendees of the grand opening could participate in the inaugural hike and register their adventure online to receive a free sticker and digital badge. Those who explore the trail on National TRACK Trails Day will also be eligible to earn exclusive rewards.

For more information about the Kids in Parks program, visit KidsinParks.com.