SUMMARY
The greater Greenville area features shopping, dining, arts and entertainment, downtown hotels and restrauants, and family oriented parks . Whether it’s a family afternoon or a shopping trip to one of the hundreds of shops in the area, the city of Greenville has worked hard to develop its self as a culturally diverse district.
ARTICLE
The city of Greenville, SC has worked diligently to turn downtown Greenville into a vibrant and diverse center for Greenville and the Upstate region. With numerous restaurants and shopping areas, lots of green space and parks, and plenty of arts and entertainment – downtown is a popular destination for the growing population of Greenville County, SC.
Falls Park on the Reedy River
One of the more popular parks in Greenville – Falls Park on the Reedy River is a fantastic space to enjoy lunch along the river or take the family to explore. In 2004, the city of Greenville commissioned the building of the Liberty Bridge. This suspension bridge spans the Reedy and provides an unobstructed view of the falls that the city was originally built around. The bridge itself has won awards for its innovative design.
This 32 acre park is a gem in downtown Greenville and features a number of bicycle and walking paths. It is also home to the annual Upstate Shakespeare Festival that is held every year. Falls Park is a fantastic center piece for the downtown area.
The West End
The West End Historic District was the home to Furman University which was built and established in 1852 on 50 acres in the West End. Today, the West End is an arts and entertainment district that features a number of popular restaurants and shopping areas like the West End Market. Many popular hang outs are located in the West End as the result of the redevelopment and newly constructed Baseball Stadium for the Greenville Drive.
The West End development has attracted young professionals to the area who are moving into luxury lofts and condos. Many of the areas historic buildings have been preserved and renovated for new residential and commercial uses.
Main Street Main Street in downtown Greenville is actually named Main Street. Greenville’s Main Street won the Great American Main Street Award in 2003 because of the development and renovation efforts of the city of Greenville, SC. Once a four lane road – Main Street was converted to a two lane road with angled parking and tree lined pedestrian paths. A popular destination for residents – Greenville’s Main Street has a lot of dining options and plenty of popular shops and art galleries.
Peace Center for the Performing Arts
Located right on Main Street in downtown Greenville is the Peace Center. Consisting of two theatres – the 2100 seat Peace Center hall and the smaller 400 seat Gunter Theatre – the Peace Center holds over 300 performances every year. Also part of the Peace Center is an outdoor amphitheatre located on the banks of the Reedy River that hosts a number of musical productions during the warmer months.
Built in 1985 by the Peace family – the Peace Center hosts a range of productions from plays and Broadway musicals to symphony performances and children’s plays. A focal point for the downtown area – the Peace Center has helped to generate overall growth of the downtown area.
Haywood Mall
Considered the ‘economic heart of the Upstate,’ Haywood Mall is part of the Haywood Road Shopping District. There are local stores and national chains in the over 150 shops that make up Haywood Mall. Five department stores and quite a few restaurants make up this popular shopping district.
Updated: January, 2010