Recreation and Parks

For decades Lake Greenwood has been at the center of recreational pursuits for locals and visitors alike. Through the years, it has gained a reputation as an ideal spot to spend a relaxed afternoon or take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. Lake Greenwood State Recreation Area is Greenwood’s 914-acre park, covering five peninsulas that provide 212 miles of shoreline for lakeside camping, hiking, fishing as well as nature trails. Four picnic shelters are also available for rental. In addition, the John and Holly Self Drummond Conservation Education and Conference Center include meeting and conference facilities for larger groups. Built in 1938 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the park still boasts evidence of the CCC craftsmanship in two picnic shelters, the retaining wall at the lake, a boathouse, and a water fountain. Also scattered around the lake are commercial and public boat landings, bait and tackle shops, fishing piers, picnic areas, restaurants and lounges. Boating, swimming, fishing, water skiing, jet skiing, sailing, and even skin diving are among the most popular lake related activities.

The Greenwood Parks and Recreation Department maintains several parks throughout the city. The Wilbanks Sports Complex has a paved fitness trail, tennis courts, covered picnic shelters, modern playgrounds, a skateboard park, and lighted athletic fields. Youth, church, and adult sports programs regularly meet at the complex for soccer, softball, baseball, football, and basketball. The complex hosts numerous softball tournaments each year.

Major grassroots efforts, along with public/private partnerships, have developed several new parks and trails through the work of Greenwood Parks Committee and Park Commission. Several parks are now open for children and adults alike to enjoy, and walking trails throughout the community continue to be developed for the avid walker and biker.

Located in the uptown Greenwood area on Magnolia Avenue, Magnolia Park features a walking trail, playground, and picnic/fellowship area. The opening of the park marked a milestone in community collaboration through grassroots efforts in Greenwood.

Formerly a railroad-switching yard, West Cambridge Park is located on West Cambridge Avenue, one of the main thoroughfares leading into the city of Greenwood. The 11-acre park includes playgrounds, an open-air pavilion, picnic shelters, benches, public restrooms and a walking/biking trail. Quiet areas for relaxation are available for many of the park’s visitors who need an escape from a hectic schedule.

The Heritage Trail is a two-mile paved path for biking, walking, or skating. Built on abandoned railroad tracks, it connects several points of interest in the city’s railroad and textile mill heritage. Near the beginning of the trail is the Railroad Museum for those interested in the history of rail travel. The Rock Creek Trail, located on the north side of Greenwood, features over two miles of wooded path through several neighborhoods in the area.

Set along the banks of the Saluda River where Greenwood, Abbeville, and Laurens counties meet, Ware Shoals and Pitts Park remain a year round favorite picnic and fishing site for visitors and residents.