York County's newest and largest park just got a whole lot bigger to explore. Catawba Bend Preserve, the 1,900-acre riverside property on the Rock Hill side of the Catawba River, has launched mountain biking and disc golf this month, with 10 miles of new mountain bike trails and two disc golf courses set to be formally dedicated at a grand-opening celebration on Oct. 17.
The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. that day, according to the Fort Mill Sun, with York County holding a ribbon cutting before the mountain biking trails and disc golf courses are dedicated and opened to the public at 12:30 p.m. that afternoon. Visit York County and its partners are also expected to dedicate the Catawba Bend cross country arch finish line that day, tied to a cross-country meet taking place on the same date. The park itself sits along the Catawba River, a stretch of forests, ponds and meadows that York County purchased in 2018.
From Soft Launch to Full-Blown Trail System
Catawba Bend Preserve soft-launched in March with hiking trails, a loblolly pine grove and ranger-led bird watching, before mountain biking and disc golf followed this September. County staff have since added roughly four miles of natural trail with signage, according to The Herald, whose reporting forms much of what's known about the park's build-out. The new mountain bike trails, created by Nature Trails, LLC, include a skills course and routes ranging from beginner to expert, while York County Parks & Recreation contracted with AcePlace Disc Golf in Rock Hill to design and build the disc golf courses.
Those courses now include an 18-hole championship layout capable of hosting tournaments and a nine-hole beginner's course, per the same outlet's report. The disc golf project was estimated at $400,000, with half of that funded through a state recreation grant. The mountain bike trail contract, pegged at $1.1 million, drew half its funding from two federal recreation grants, the newspaper reported — though the county funded the disc golf courses more broadly through a mix of state grants, federal grants and local funds committed through York County Council.
What's Already Built, and What's Still Coming
The park's first phase, valued at $6.3 million, includes a mile-and-a-half entrance road, a trailhead, restrooms, parking and a gatehouse, The Herald reported, citing county officials. Construction on that phase began in October 2024, and weather delays totaling 60 days led to a forecast of completion by Christmas 2025, with parks staff expected to take over in January 2026; the park opened in March 2026. County officials have also described plans for a paved, 1.5-mile greenway trail segment along the river, with construction expected to continue into November 2027.
The preserve's river frontage — five miles of it, according to The Herald — will eventually support river launches for paddlers, along with camping and event areas down the line, per a separate account from Yahoo Travel. That report also notes fishing isn't allowed yet, though three ponds on the property are expected eventually to be stocked with bream, bass and catfish. Accounts of the park's current walking-trail mileage vary slightly, with one placing the total at more than two miles and another describing it as 2.5 miles.
County Officials Frame the Park as a Long-Term Investment
Marvin Bouknight is the park superintendent overseeing Catawba Bend's development and operations, according to the Fort Mill Sun's reporting. County officials describe the preserve as a project that required buying land, establishing its purpose, designing the park, hiring staff and funding amenities in stages — a process Christi Cox characterized as building protected greenspace preserved for everyone to enjoy for years to come. Katherine Jones, also quoted in the Fort Mill Sun's account, called the preserve a vital community resource that will provide a place for future generations to enjoy nature.
York County has framed the park as one that will expand its outdoor recreation offerings while providing experiences that highlight and interpret the site's natural and cultural resources, serving both residents and visitors now and into the future. Yahoo Travel's report adds that the county spent $21 million to acquire the 1,900-acre site itself, separate from the $6.3 million spent to open its first phase — underscoring the scale of investment behind what officials are billing as York County's newest and largest premier park.
