Just 30 minutes from Greenville, SC, this brand-new all-abilities park is a great destination for an outing with kids. The park features a central 3-story tower structure with an overlook at the top, accessible swings, inclusive climbing structures, adaptive slides, ramps, sensory play panels, a wheelchair-accessible glider, and a merry-go-round. It’s completed with a secure gate and turf safety surfacing.
It’s winter break, and as usual, we’re on a mission to check out as many new playgrounds in the area as we can. So far, the weather’s been on our side here in the Upstate, and we’ve been able to spend the whole day outside.
We first stumbled upon Mineral Spring Park back in the spring of 2024. The park itself was a lovely mix of history (it’s one of the oldest public parks in the country), walking trails, and family-friendly amenities. However, the playground had definitely seen better days and could really use an update.
We were beyond excited when we found out that the park had gotten a major makeover. A brand-new inclusive playground was installed in November 2024! So, on the first day of 2025, we piled into the car and set off on a short road trip to downtown Williamston.
Christmas Park
Absolutely by accident, we stumbled upon another awesome event happening in December in downtown Williamston—Christmas Park! It's a beloved holiday attraction in Mineral Spring Park, featuring a stunning collection of holiday displays and thousands of twinkling lights. This local tradition has been around since 1958. Every year, local businesses, churches, civic groups and the Town of Williamston team up to create original exhibits and decorate the park with lights.
Even on the first day of January, the park was still full of Christmas displays and holiday cheer, so we got the best of both worlds—experiencing the brand-new playground while enjoying a festive holiday walk.
Mineral Spring Playground
It’s worth mentioning that this park is one of the oldest public parks in the country. Back in the fall of 1842, a landowner named West Allen Williams discovered a mineral spring on his property. Word spread quickly about the spring’s healing properties, and before long, a town grew up around it. Williamston became a popular resort spot. The spring is still bubbling on the land that Williams gave to the town. Research shows the park might have been established in 1844.
Now, let’s talk about the playground. It’s really nice and well-planned, with lots of different structures, all centered around a three-story tower with an overlook at the top. It actually reminds me of another great spot in the area, Tyger River Park in Duncan, SC.
What really surprised me, though, was how many sensory play panels there are—so many fun ones to try!
The kids loved this climbing structure so much that they were still hooked on it long after the sun had set. It combines low elements for beginners to build strength with challenges for natural climbers, encouraging growth at every level.
There are endless opportunities for exploration—vertical tunnels, little swing seats, belt bridges, a variety of steps and rungs to pull yourself up, and a slide that takes you back down from the top.
Additionally, the park offers other fun attractions, including tennis courts, an amphitheater, a gazebo, and a walking trail. You can also learn about the healing spring, known as God’s Acre, that flows through the park.
Where: Mineral Spring Park
121 W Main St, Williamston, SC
More Inclusive Playgrounds in South Carolina
1. Hyleman's Humble Playground, Gaffney
2. The Park of Lyman, Lyman
3. Miracle Park of Rock Hill, Rock Hill
4. Sunset Park, Mauldin
0 comments:
Post a Comment