Support Us Button Widget

How Greenville, SC’s Unity Park was designed to handle flooding

City engineers watched their work get tested to start off 2023.

GVL_Unity_Park_Flood_2_JAN2023

Flash flooding at Unity Park | Photo by the City of Greenville

The chances of rain this week are much lower than the last when Greenville received ~4 inches of rain causing flash flooding, especially in areas around the Reedy River.

GVL_Unity_Park_Flood_JAN2023

What a difference 24 hours can make. | Videos by The City of Greenville

City engineers say there will always be times when a river exceeds its banks, because that’s what rivers do, but it’s about how leaders and engineers can plan ahead to minimize damage:

  • The city built Unity Park in a floodplain because parks recover quickly after taking on water, unlike buildings and other properties.
    GVL_Unity_Park_Flood_Bench_JAN2023

    The bench gives the swelling river a place to go. | Videos by The City of Greenville

  • Along the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail, engineers designed river benches to give the water a place to go in weather events that cause the river to rise, protecting businesses at The Commons.
  • From Unity Park’s electrical systems to the soil mixture to the furniture and structures to the plants and trees, park designers made design choices that withstand the rising Reedy River.
More from GVLtoday
A new Wind Phone now offers visitors a quiet space in Conestee’s Rock Garden to share unspoken words with lost loved ones.
Greenville’s civic and business leaders are traveling to Boise, Idaho, for a multiday Intercommunity Leadership Visit — exploring how one of America’s top-ranked cities is tackling growth, innovation, and quality of life. We’re taking you along.
Once a 1929 synagogue, now a downtown retreat — 307 Townes Street blends history, craftsmanship, and modern luxury. From a dome-crowned primary suite to a garden oasis with a heated pool, this landmark home is on the market.
VisitGreenvilleSC shared new tourism figures, including tax relief it brings residents in and around Greenville.
Here’s how you can turn your old photos and records into a piece of Greenville history.
We think it might be time for GVL to get a flag of its own.
We’re sharing 10+ spots for watching sports in Greenville.
As “Top Chef” kicks off its filming, with plans to shoot in Greenville, alumni of the show and other fan-favorite television chefs are descending on our city for the 20th annual euphoria festival.
Directly north, east, south, and west of GVL, cities across the world await.
From Luke Bryan to The Lumineers, get your tickets to these upcoming concerts in Greenville before they sell out.