Reedy River Redevelopment Area and Unity Park Greenville, South Carolina

Services Provided

Focus Area Planning
Urban Park Design
Community Engagement
Documentation

People Involved

Darren Meyer
Andrew Overbeck
Luis Calvo
Donald Zellefrow

Integrating public park design with neighborhood planning, to create sustainable solutions with an immediate positive impact.

Recognizing the important relationship between park planning and community development, MKSK and the City of Greenville have partnered since 2015 on an innovative approach to equitable development and public space planning on the west side of Greenville, South Carolina.

The Reedy River Redevelopment Area (RRRA) is a 350-acre district in the historically African American neighborhoods of Southernside and West Greenville and is centered around the Reedy River. In a proactive approach to planning for flood hazards, real estate market pressures, and the needs of daily urban living, MKSK prepared a district plan for parks and open space in the Reedy River floodplain and an affordable housing and equitable development plan for the neighborhoods surrounding the river and future park.

This comprehensive approach to parks and community planning provided the foundation for social and environmental equity in the culturally-rich neighborhoods west of downtown Greenville and also provided a model for urban floodplain management and green infrastructure.

Building on the district planning effort that launched in 2016, MKSK has continued to assist the City and greater Greenville community in the development of this vision with the creation of a Community Character Code (form-based code) an affordable housing strategy, and development planning for the district.