Beaufort County and the Beaufort County Open Land Trust invite residents to participate in a survey regarding the County’s Rural and Critical Lands Preservation Program, which has acquired approximately 23,000 acres of land for conservation since 1999.

Some of these spaces have potential public use and benefit as passive park space which can be utilized for recreation such as bird watching, hiking, and fishing. The input from residents will assist the County in creating a plan for the improvement, operation, and maintenance of these critical public spaces. This survey is being administered by Clemson University researchers through the Strom Thurmond Institute and Clemson University’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. The survey is available online at www.bcgov.net and hard copies will be available at the County’s Planning Department (100 Ribaut Road, Room 115, Beaufort) and all County Library branches beginning February 10. The survey deadline is February 29, 2016. For additional information, call the Planning Department at 843-255-2141.