Unity Park (New 160 Acre West End Park)

[GVLover]

3 minutes ago, SVL said:

The city does a good job of providing bags and trash cans to get rid of it.  I'll never understand why I see so much dog mess left behind.  

Just as some people cough into the air without covering their mouths, people who don’t pick up their dog poop think it’s their god given right to leave poop wherever they please with zero remorse. 

[gman430]

https://kiddingaroundgreenville.com/unity-park?fbclid=IwAR28J3fM07K0SrtVEBi8igE24mcR_Qr5mZJr0zGWYu-symeVeKTS2ZYwGE0

[Danmire]

1 hour ago, GVLover said:

Just as some people cough into the air without covering their mouths, people who don’t pick up their dog poop think it’s their god given right to leave poop wherever they please with zero remorse. 

The ones I think are worse are those that bag it and then just leave it there on the trail.  Who are they expecting to pick it up?

[GVLover]

Edit. 

 

Edited May 17, 2022 by GVLover

[GvilleSC]

The park is looking great. Phase I will be exciting to see open tomorrow. I can't wait to see the final product completed! 

For the nay-sayers regarding the height of the observation tower: this is from standing at the corner of Mayberry and Hudson Streets. There are two places above the tree line where you can see the Blue Ridge.  The observation tower's grade may be a couple of feet lower, but the fact that you can see the mountains from a height of 6' means that you'll be able to see a fair bit with additional constructed elevation. This image's quality will not do it justice, but I'll try to zoom in and post some snippets of this photo.

Edited May 17, 2022 by GvilleSC

[GvilleSC]

Here’s a zoom of the mountains above the train in the larger photo. 

[Danmire]

New sculpture just past the train bridge and views up and down the river from the spinx bridge.  Park is really looking awesome.  

[gman430]

Yeah, I rode my bike through there on Sunday and it is starting to impress me more now that it’s getting more complete. The yellow flowers along the banks of the Reedy are a really nice touch. Night and day compared to what used to be there for sure. 
 

*oh and needs drone pics*
 

Edited May 17, 2022 by gman430

[NewlyUpstate]

I've always been a big believer in the park, but my one reservation was always with the playground with the lack of equipment instead focusing more on natural landscapes and hills and stuff.

In my opinion, my concern was completely unfounded.  It looks absolutely great and super unique. I think the kiddos are going to have a ton of fun running all over it.  Just more fuel for the thought that the leaders of this city know what they're doing for these bigger projects and to give them some trust (*cough cough*.. the tower)

[GvilleSC]

38 minutes ago, NewlyUpstate said:

I've always been a big believer in the park, but my one reservation was always with the playground with the lack of equipment instead focusing more on natural landscapes and hills and stuff.

In my opinion, my concern was completely unfounded.  It looks absolutely great and super unique. I think the kiddos are going to have a ton of fun running all over it.  Just more fuel for the thought that the leaders of this city know what they're doing for these bigger projects and to give them some trust (*cough cough*.. the tower)

To be fair to yourself, all concepts of the play spaces were very limited in their scope. They certainly were not inspiring. This probably has to do with initial images being limited to initial imagination/scope versus the reality of successful fundraising enabling a great final product. To your other point -- I agree that the City generally knows what they're doing when implementing these long-studied and planned visions.

[vicupstate]

41 minutes ago, NewlyUpstate said:

I've always been a big believer in the park, but my one reservation was always with the playground with the lack of equipment instead focusing more on natural landscapes and hills and stuff.

In my opinion, my concern was completely unfounded.  It looks absolutely great and super unique. I think the kiddos are going to have a ton of fun running all over it.  Just more fuel for the thought that the leaders of this city know what they're doing for these bigger projects and to give them some trust (*cough cough*.. the tower)

I have been reading John Boyanoski's 'Reimagining Greenville: Building the best downtown in America'. I just finished the chapter on Falls Park.  It really took a whole lot of time and effort to get the old highway bridge demolished and the park built. There were so many naysayers and they were very vocal. Yet the city council UNANIMOUSLY approved demolishing the bridge and building the park.  They could never have done that without a lot of leg work to build  support  beforehand. Today literally NO ONE would say it was the wrong decision. 

We are VERY fortunate to live in a city that gets SO MUCH right, when so many others don't.   

 

[gman]

1 hour ago, Danmire said:

New sculpture just past the train bridge and views up and down the river from the spinx bridge.  Park is really looking awesome.  

The artist that did that sculpture was at Artisphere. Beautiful piece of art. 

[gman]

I just got back home from a walk on the SRT from the Cancer Survivors Park to the Commons area. I have one word for Unity Park. “Spectacular.” Seriously folks, we are so lucky to have a downtown and parks like no other in the country, and visionary leaders that are not afraid to take risks. I have never been more proud to call Greenville my home. 

[GVLover]

I can’t understand for the life of me why Auro Bridge wasn’t painted. 

[GvilleSC]

6 minutes ago, GVLover said:

I can’t understand for the life of me why Auro Bridge wasn’t painted. 

I really like the patina look. It matches the other bridges in the park, and the new rabbit sculpture. 

Edited May 18, 2022 by GvilleSC

[Horatio Nelson]

1 hour ago, GVLover said:

I can’t understand for the life of me why Auro Bridge wasn’t painted. 

The point of that type of steel is that once it forms its layer of oxidation (rust) on the outside the oxidation protects it (like aluminum). It means that you don't have to spend money on keeping it painted and it just always looks like that. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weathering_steel

[gman430]

The Statue of Liberty wasn’t painted either.  

[GVLover]

6 hours ago, Horatio Nelson said:

The point of that type of steel is that once it forms its layer of oxidation (rust) on the outside the oxidation protects it (like aluminum). It means that you don't have to spend money on keeping it painted and it just always looks like that. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weathering_steel

My problem is I loved the original concept of the bridge, and I’m going to compare “Auro Bridge” to “Liberty Bridge”, which isn’t the fault of the designers and engineers, for some time simply because Liberty is iconic while Auro is not. The “Auro Bridge” nameplate only adds to my disdain because it looks completely out of place. Even the suspension cables look like an after thought to me compared to the rest of the bridge IMO. I’m not against weathered steel, but this bridge looks like steel beams welded together that could frankly be built anywhere instead of something unique in a $70m park. I’m hoping my opinion changes once I have the opportunity to walk across it. I’m looking forward to seeing the skyline grow, and the view we’ll get from the bridge either way!

That said, “Sealevel Systems” of Liberty made a donation to the park of $250,000 for a pedestrian trail from Southernside to Unity Park. 

Edited May 19, 2022 by GVLover

[GvilleSC]

15 hours ago, GVLover said:

 

That said, “Sealevel Systems” of Liberty made a donation to the park of $250,000 for a pedestrian trail from Southernside to Unity Park. 

This looks very interesting. I couldn't find a better image off of a quick search, but does anyone know if the walkway folly contains chimes, or lighting, or what it is that hangs down? 

I'm rather impressed that Sealevel donated this sum. What a nice corporate citizen!

-------

Today is THE DAY! Congratulations City of Greenville and Greenville community on the realization of this long range vision! The environment is better for it, as is the health of the City itself, and the citizens. 

Edited May 19, 2022 by GvilleSC

[vicupstate]

^^ Wind Chimes

[GvilleSC]

Downtown skyline and Auro Bridge. We could use a couple of taller buildings to break above the tree line..

West End skyline from the bridge:

 

Edited May 19, 2022 by GvilleSC

[apaladin]

Color me unimpressed. Sorry. 

[gman430]

The protestors against the park at the grand opening this morning was the best part.  

Edited May 19, 2022 by gman430

[vicupstate]

4 minutes ago, apaladin said:

Color me unimpressed. Sorry. 

We didn't expect any different. 

 

This park serves three main functions. 1) a great place to take kids that doesn't cost anything yet offers something for their parents too. 2) to serve as the  premier node along the SRT 3) provide a  worthy backdrop and additional reason to visit the  more adult type activities  fostered by the Delano warehouse building and the Welborn Commons. 

If you aren't a parent the first function doesn't really appeal to you.   

You also have to recognize the majority of trees are not mature, so the park will look and function a lot better when they have.  It will also make more sense why this park was put here when the Delano building and the others that will soon follow are built along the edge of the park.       

[Horatio Nelson]

10 minutes ago, vicupstate said:

We didn't expect any different. 

 

This park serves three main functions. 1) a great place to take kids that doesn't cost anything yet offers something for their parents too. 2) to serve as the  premier node along the SRT 3) provide a  worthy backdrop and additional reason to visit the  more adult type activities  fostered by the Delano warehouse building and the Welborn Commons. 

If you aren't a parent the first function doesn't really appeal to you.   

You also have to recognize the majority of trees are not mature, so the park will look and function a lot better when they have.  It will also make more sense why this park was put here when the Delano building and the others that will soon follow are built along the edge of the park.       

I find the park pretty impressive in person. Especially imagining all the bits around it yet to come.