SUMMARY
An expansive parks system is expertly managed and maintained by the Greenville County Parks and Recreation District. Offering a variety of amenities from walking and biking paths to baseball diamonds and athletic fields, the parks of Greenville County are popular retreats for residents of the area.
ARTICLE
Greenville, SC takes pride in their park system. Greenville County Parks are abundant, well maintained, and a perfect place to escape for lunch on a busy week day. Some of the area’s parks are large with a number of amenities, while others are smaller and offer 1 or 2 activities like a biking trail or athletic field.
Because of the wonderful abundance of natural beauty in the region – residents love to take advantage of the outdoors by using the popular state parks in the Blue Ridge Mountain’s Foothills, as well as the city and county parks that provide a sanctuary within urban areas.
Falls Park on the Reedy
Falls Park is one of the most popular of the Greenville County parks. It’s located right in downtown Greenville on the banks of the Reedy River. The key feature of this 32 acre park is the 355 foot pedestrian suspension bridge which spans the Reedy River and provides a fantastic view of the waterfall that the park is named after. The suspension bridge, known as Liberty Bridge, is a new feature of the park having been built in 2004. The bridge itself was awarded an Arthur G. Hayden medal for Innovative Design in 2005 because of the interesting curved design which provides an unobstructed view of the falls.
Every summer the annual Upstate Shakespeare Festival is hosted in Falls Park. Residents from all over the Upstate region travel to Greenville to enjoy this festival.
Discovery Island Water Park
Greenville County Parks and Recreation have received numerous awards for their popular aquatic facility. Named the National Recreation and Parks Association’s Best in Aquatics in 2006, this popular summer retreat has something for everyone. Open between Memorial Day and Labor Day – this park is popular for birthdays and all sorts of parties. They have a number of pools and tube rides, and also feature a large ‘FlowRider’ Wave Pool that has regular bodyboarding and kneeboarding competitions for anybody wanting to participate.
There is an admission fee to use the park which is based on height – the most expensive being $10 for anybody 4 foot and over.
Shoeless Joe Jackson Memorial Park
Combining leisure and history – the Shoeless Joe Jackson Memorial Park is another popular Greenville County Park. Shoeless Joe Jackson – famous for being a super talented baseball player who took part in the Black Sox scandal – grew up in the Greenville area. When he was younger, he played baseball for one of the local textile mills. This park has a playground and a ball field which is lighted and hosts a number of summer little league games.
Pleasant Ridge Park
With an interesting history and a 4 acre stocked lake, this park is favorite getaway from the hustle of the city. This Greenville County Park was originally built in the 1940’s for the African American Community to use and enjoy. Neighboring Paris Mountain State Park was built for the white community. Long after integrating in the 60’s, these parks are still very popular in Greenville County.
Pleasant Ridge Park offers a few waterfront cabins that are available for rental. There are hiking trails and plenty of fish to catch in the lake. Greenville County has plans to build a 10 million dollar facility for camps and conferences in 2009 at Pleasant Ridge Park.
Greenville County Parks provide something for everyone. In many places a park is a place to relax, have fun, and enjoy the outdoors. In Greenville, SC – parks are also a celebration. They’re a celebration of the abundant natural beauty of the region and serve to provide a gathering place for the community to enjoy their home.
Updated: January, 2010