Editor’s Note: The monthly “Elevate Well-Being” blog series shares thoughts and reflections of Clemson Well-Being Council members and University faculty and staff. Our latest blog is courtesy Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Provost Bob Jones.
One of the great privileges of serving as provost of Clemson University is seeing how our University and community work together to create spaces that enrich lives — not only for our students, faculty, and staff, but for our neighbors across the Upstate. When we talk about well-being at Clemson, we often focus on academic success, physical health and mental resilience. But true well-being is also about place. It’s about the environments we share, the relationships we build and the opportunities we create for everyone to flourish.
Clemson University is a proud partner in the vision of the Green Crescent Trail.
If you’re not familiar with it, the Green Crescent Trail is a growing network of walking and biking paths connecting Clemson, Central and Pendleton. It’s much more than an exercise route, it’s an investment in safe, accessible ways to get outdoors, to travel without a car and to enjoy nature right here at home.
The vision is ambitious: more than 30 miles of trails, greenways, complete streets and public transit connections. This isn’t simply a path through the woods; it’s a regional framework for linking our neighborhoods, schools, parks and business districts in ways that make movement, connection and community a natural part of daily life.
Remarkably, this idea began in a Clemson University classroom and has grown into a regional initiative led by the Friends of the Green Crescent — passionate volunteers and partners from across our local municipalities. Together, they are turning an academic concept into a national model for connectivity, sustainability and well-being.
As Mayor Robert Halfacre has shared, “The City of Clemson is a proud and strong supporter of the Green Crescent Trail, which promotes a healthy, active lifestyle and connects our community. Speaking from personal experience as a runner on the trail, I’ve seen firsthand how it brings people together. This trail network is helping our residents live, work, and play in a better way, and we look forward to supporting its growth every step of the way.”
Why does this matter to us at Clemson? Because the trail directly supports the pillars of well-being we seek to advance:
- Movement: Walking, biking, running or rolling — regular movement is one of the most effective ways to support lifelong health.
- Connection: Trails are gathering spaces. They strengthen the bonds between students, faculty, staff and neighbors.
- Restoration: Nature offers perspective, clarity and renewal. Even a short walk can reduce stress and sharpen focus.
Here’s how you can be part of this vision:
- Volunteer as an ambassador to help keep the trail safe, clean, and inviting.
- Donate to support expansion and maintenance.
- Advocate by sharing the importance of the trail with friends, colleagues and local leaders.
If you’ve never experienced the Green Crescent Trail, I encourage you to explore it for yourself. If you’re already a user, consider joining the movement to grow and sustain it. Together, we can ensure that our community remains connected — not only through roads and technology, but through pathways that promote healthier lives, stronger relationships and a deeper sense of belonging.
Let’s keep building a Clemson where movement, connection and well-being are woven into the very fabric of who we are.
