See the latest plans for new 105-acre Rock Hill park, with athletic fields and trails
The latest plans for a much-anticipated new 105-acre park in Rock Hill show sports fields, playgrounds, a food truck area, amphitheater seating and ponds with a boardwalk trail.
The city applied to rezone most of the property for what’s for now called Southside Regional Park, which will span from Heckle Boulevard to Main Street. That application prompted a concept plan showing where certain features might go.
The city plans to add more property to the park. When complete it could be about twice the size of other landmark sport sites in the city, in Cherry Park and Manchester Meadows.
The layout and land uses aren’t final, but the plan offers the latest glimpse into city plans for the site. The project will cost an estimated $40 million. A current cost opening timeline from the city wasn’t immediately available.
The largest developed area would go just north of the American Legion Post 34 on Heckle Boulevard. A full-size baseball field would have seating for up to 600 spectators. Two youth baseball fields and an amphitheater would be beside it.
Four more fields in a clover leaf design could be used for various sports.
They each have space for a small football field, a large baseball field or up to three smaller baseball or softball fields. Each of the clover leaf fields would have seating for up to 250 spectators.
The concept plan also shows two basketball courts, pickleball courts, two playground areas, two shelters with restrooms, nine covered batting cages in two spots, grassy overflow parking or event space, ponds with a boardwalk, concession stands and nearly 700 paved parking spaces in the main area.
Across a stream, there’s another section of the park near Sidney, Florence and Morgan streets.
The plan shows two full-size football fields with seating for 800 spectators. There’s a ticket booth, turf warm-up area and concession stand.
Three more basketball courts and a community building off Florence Street sit just beside where the park will connect to a future development phase.
Though the final layout isn’t confirmed, it’s close to set, city parks and recreation director Mark Sexton said in an online update last month. “The concept is really in place,” he said. “I think our community has spoken about some of the things they want to see in that park.”
Connecting to another park project in Rock Hill
In addition to park features, the property will connect to Rock Hill’s ambitious Storyline project.
Storyline is an urban linear park that connects attractions, landmarks and gathering spots from Winthrop University to Fountain Park. It will add a large pedestrian bridge across Dave Lyle Boulevard downtown, paid for by a more than $10 million federal grant.
The city owns the Southside Regional Park properties up for rezoning. They include Arcade Park, public works space, trails and vacant property.
The city Planning Commission will review the zoning request Tuesday. Rock Hill City Council will make the final decision.
This story was originally published February 3, 2025 at 12:35 PM.
