Falls Park on the Reedy is a celebrated 32-acre urban park located in downtown Greenville, South Carolina, serving as a centerpiece for the city’s revitalization and urban identity. The park’s origins trace back to 1967 when the Carolina Foothills Garden Club reclaimed 26 acres of former textile mill land, but its full transformation was realized in 2004 under Mayor Knox H. White’s leadership, culminating in a $13.5 million public investment largely funded by the city’s hospitality tax[1][2].
Falls Park is renowned for its striking Liberty Bridge, a 355-foot-long pedestrian suspension bridge designed by Boston-based Rosales + Partners and structural engineers Schlaich Bergermann & Partner. Completed in 2004, this innovative bridge is supported by cables on only one side, creating an unobstructed view of the Reedy River waterfall beneath and has won the Arthur G. Hayden Medal for innovative design[1][2]. The bridge and the park's elegant combination of stone steps, ramps, and elevator connect Greenville's Main Street with the river valley 65 feet below, enhancing accessibility and visitor experience[1].
The park’s design integrates manicured greenspaces, native plantings, winding trails, and wooded valleys that support diverse activities such as walking, cycling, picnics, and large public events like the annual Reedy River Duck Derby. It also features public art, including Bryan Hunt’s bronze sculpture *Fall Lake Falls*, and retains historical elements like a wall from the original 1776 grist mill, linking past and present[2][7].
Falls Park has been a catalyst for economic growth, spurring nearly $600 million in surrounding development, including $65 million in hospitality investments, thereby revitalizing Greenville’s downtown and enhancing its appeal as a business and cultural hub[1]. The park continues to be a focal point for community engagement and tourism, regularly hosting events like the Upstate Shakespeare Festival and being recognized as