Leaders from Columbia and Richland County were on the banks of the Saluda River Monday as ground was broken for Phase One of the Saluda Riverwalk.

Phase One of the Saluda Riverwalk will eventually connect to the miles of riverwalk already established in Cayce, West Columbia and Columbia. To the south, when Phase Two is completed, the trail will link to Riverfront Park, and provide unbroken access all the way to Gervais Street. To the north the path will eventually cross the Saluda River, via bridge, and connect near Lexington Medical Center in Lexington County. The City of West Columbia has plans, and funding, to build that bridge.

“To see shovels in the ground is a great thing,” said Mike Dawson of the River Alliance. Bill Stangler, of the Congaree Riverkeeper, said the effort “will restore public access to the river.”

The ceremony took place off of Candi Lane near Riverbanks Zoo. It is expected to take a year to complete.

Speakers at the grounbreaking included Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin and Richland County Councilman Paul Livingston. Dawson said Livingtson has been active in the river greenway project since it began. The City of Columbia will be in charge of the new portion of riverwalk. It’s funded, mostly, by the Richland County Penny Tax.

Phase One of the Saluda Riverwalk is three miles and it includes a concrete walkway with boardwalks and bridges. Picnic tables, benches and lighting are also a part of the plan with a 40-car parking lot on Candi Lane close to the zoo. Dawson and Stangler said they expect the lot to be full with users eager to access the river.