Conserving Carolina Acquires Land for Park and Greenway
Conserving Carolina has acquired land along the Estatoe Trail near Transylvania Regional Hospital, which will become a local park. The 11.5-acre property is a vital link in the local greenway network. It contains a segment of the greenway where it crosses over Lamb Creek, a trout stream flowing out of the national forest. The property is also located near the intersection of the Estatoe Trail and the future Ecusta Trail. It is surrounded by the hospital, parkland with ball fields, Pisgah Forest Elementary School, and Oskar Blues brewery. The land is also part of a popular birding area known as Hospital Fields.
“We are thrilled to help keep this property accessible to the public for outdoor recreation and look forward to working with the City of Brevard toward its permanent protection as a public park,” said Rebekah Robinson, the conservancy’s Assistant Director for Programs.
Conserving Carolina acquired the greenway property in order to facilitate the creation of a new park. The land had previously been owned by the hospital and then by Pisgah Health Foundation. The foundation was ready to let go of the property, but the City of Brevard was not yet ready to acquire it. Conserving Carolina stepped in to bridge the gap in ownership and ensure that the property will remain an asset to the community that is only enhanced over time. Pisgah Health Foundation donated the land to Conserving Carolina on Sept. 25.
Cara Bradshaw, Executive Director of the Pisgah Health Foundation said, “Health is rooted in connection—to each other, to nature, and to the place we call home. By ensuring this green space remains accessible to the public, we’re investing in the kind of community infrastructure that supports well-being, resilience, and a stronger sense of belonging for everyone.”
Part of the value of this natural area is its proximity to the hospital. Research shows that patients with access to green space, or even a view of trees, recover faster. Visitors to the hospital can walk on the path to get exercise and relieve stress. And hospital employees also benefit, with an outdoor space where they can take a break from stressful jobs and get fresh air and exercise. Research shows that when hospital staff can go outside for even a few minutes, it improves morale and reduces burnout.
The land—with its mix of fields, woods, and river—is also part of one of the most popular birding areas in Brevard. On E-bird, 194 species have been reported in the Hospital Fields area. Recently, sightings have included green herons, kingfishers, hawks, woodpeckers, and numerous warblers passing through during the fall migration.
The property is also a key link in the local greenway network, less than half a mile from the planned intersection with the Ecusta Trail. The Estatoe Trail already connects the City of Brevard with Pisgah National Forest; now it will also connect it to a new rail trail that extends 19 miles, all the way to Hendersonville.