Renderings and possible amenities of new Reedy River park

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by ClemVegas

This park and no park is going to make poor people less poor. That's why there are homeless people who need emergency dental care on Main Street near Falls Park.

I think most poor people would prefer financial assistance over a park. We should allow low income people to vote on what the hospitality tax should be used for. Downtown Greenville is a cash cow and it would be helping a lot of people.

There's no park in the Greenville metro that has an swanky observation tower so the equity thing doesn't make any sense. If it does bring in businesses, they are likely to be businesses that are too expensive for the poor and they probably are not going to employ the poor.

I'm okay with the city building the park but it is stretch for the city to say it is about the poor.

I could see this park ending up like Finley Park in Columbia if it doesn't have the observation tower given it is not right in the business district. That's why they included the tower. There are probably going to be a lot of homeless people in this park even with the tower.

Greenville already has several nice parks downtown. You can't top a waterfall park with an massive pedestrian bridge right on the Main Street. I don't think the city has a good case this park would bring in more businesses and why would bringing in more businesses be a good thing given people complain about traffic already. Greenville's already well on its way to becoming a mega city.

This article from the Greenville Journal addresses pretty much everything you've said. Residents of nearby neighborhoods seem to be pretty enthusiastic about the new park happening.

The main reason for constructing the park isn't for luring businesses and that's not what the city is saying; I was only making the argument that great parks are QOL amenities which can help attract new business to a city. As the article stated, the park's primary goal is to restore the remainder of the Reedy River (which helps alleviate flooding) and build more greenspace along the river which has long been the city's plan. The plan evolved and the city was smart to enlarge the park and connect it to Falls Park and the Swamp Rabbit Trail; then it was much easier to justify the use of hospitality taxes to help fund it while also taking the opportunity to extend an olive branch to residents in nearby neighborhoods who don't necessarily have the best history with the city. Low-income people like having nice parks in their communities too and this will accomplish that goal.

Also, don't forget about the affordable housing planned to be built in these neighborhoods in connection with the park along with other potential programs designed to benefit the existing homeowners and avoid displacement due to rapid gentrification: https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/new...t-in-the-south

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by NDL

I hope that the gentrification effort doesn't force longtime residents out.

The city is actively working to ensure that doesn't happen which is why there is an affordable housing component that's part of the overall development. The whole point of the city making this grand gesture to the neighborhood is to ensure that current residents can enjoy the new park.

This park will achieve environmental (Reedy River restoration), economic (attract more visitors), and inclusive social (affordable housing) purposes simultaneously. That's impressive.

[WhitewaterVol]

Originally Posted by NDL

I hope that the gentrification effort doesn't force longtime residents out.

That is a real concern for the area around this park in particular. That is already happening some on the West End. It is nice to see revitalization of areas but it is problematic if it drives out the long term residents only to replace them with yuppies.