Falls Park on the Reedy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Falls Park on the Reedy |
|
|---|---|
View of park from foot bridge showing cascades
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Greenville, SC |
| Area | 32 acres (0.13 km2) |
| Created | 1967 |
| Owned by | Greenville, SC |
| Status | Open all year |
Falls Park on the Reedy is a fantastic park covering about 32 acres in downtown Greenville, South Carolina. It's located in the historic West End district, which is a really old part of the city. Many people consider this spot the very birthplace of Greenville!
The park was created in 1967 by the Carolina Foothills Garden Club. They took back about 26 acres of land that used to be used by old textile mills. Later, in the late 1990s, the park got a big makeover. This happened under the leadership of Mayor Knox H. White. To help with the park's growth, a special group called the Falls Park Endowment was formed. This private charity helps support the park's ongoing development and improvements. Every summer, the park also hosts the Upstate Shakespeare Festival, where you can watch plays by William Shakespeare.
Contents
The Amazing Liberty Bridge
The most eye-catching part of Falls Park is its unique pedestrian bridge. This bridge curves around a beautiful waterfall on the Reedy River. It's called the Liberty Bridge at Falls Park on the Reedy.
Bridge Design and Awards
The Liberty Bridge is about 355 feet long. What makes it special is that it's a suspension bridge supported by cables on only one side. This design gives you a totally clear view of the waterfalls below! The bridge was designed by a company from Boston called Rosales + Partners. A German company, Schlaich Bergermann & Partner, helped with the structure. It was finished in the fall of 2004. In 2005, the bridge even won an award called the Arthur G. Hayden medal for its amazing and new design.
Art and History in the Park
Near the Liberty Bridge, you'll find the main entrance to the park on Main Street. Here, you can see a large bronze sculpture called Fall Lake Falls. This artwork, created by Bryan Hunt, stands about 16 feet tall.
Park Features and Amenities
The Main Street entrance area also has a restaurant and other helpful things for visitors at the new Falls Park Center. The park is also home to many beautiful public gardens. You can even see a wall from the original grist mill that was built on this very spot way back in 1776!
