PAL creates opportunities for active living and healthy eating for everyone, centered around Spartanburg County.
Duncan Park, a cherished green space in our community, is entering a new chapter of revitalization, bringing exciting opportunities for residents and visitors alike. Identified as a priority in the Duncan Park Revisioning Plan by a steering committee of local residents and stakeholders, the park is now seeing tangible results from these collective efforts. For the first time in decades, Duncan Park Lake is officially open for non-motorized boating and catch-and-release fishing!
This milestone comes on the heels of other recent improvements, including the removal of invasive species and enhancements to the park's trails, all of which were outlined in the revisioning plan spearheaded by PAL: Play. Advocate. Live Well. in partnership with the City. These changes mark the beginning of an exciting new era for Duncan Park.
PAL and the City of Spartanburg, with guidance from a community-based steering committee and the National Park Service, are leading a master planning process for Duncan Park. Feedback and direction from the community will drive the recommendations.
This project, based on a vision plan created with significant public input, has enlivened and activated Duncan Park, much of which was not well used (wooded areas that include some trails) or was closed to public use (the lake had not been open since the 1950s). The master planning process has been facilitated by the Duncan Park steering committee, PAL, the City of Spartanburg, and the National Park Service.
This master plan proposed new recreation facilities to include a picnic shelter with storage for kayaks and other equipment and an ADA dock, all of which are now open. It will renovate two youth baseball fields, including adding historical markers celebrating Negro League baseball in Spartanburg, improving restrooms and the concession stand, and improving lighting as needed. It will add trails that tie in neighborhoods on both sides of the park to new and existing facilities. This plan was developed with the public input on three different surveys that gathered over 750 responses, as well as a steering committee and two open house meetings.
Sally Carroll, Forest Park resident
Pamela Case, regular Duncan Park pickle ball player
Randy Edwards, Carver Middle School Principal, Southside Running Club
John Faris
Glenda Foster
Jason Freiman, Converse Heights resident & Leadership Spartanburg class of 2022
Maria Harris, Grassroots Leadership class of 2022
Mike Nation, Spartanburg County Parks & Forest Park resident
Luther Norman, Youth Sports Bureau
Terry O’Brien, Duncan Park resident
Willa Reeder, Forest Park Neighborhood Association
Devin Stewart, LISC Upstate SC
Toni Sutton, South Converse Neighborhood Association
Rosa Thomas, Forest Park resident
Lisa Ware, Forest Park resident
Bill Lan, National Park Service
Kim Moultrie, City of Spartanburg
Dave Theiss, PAL: Play. Advocate. Live Well
Ned Barrett, PAL: Play. Advocate. Live Well
Laura Ringo, PAL: Play. Advocate. Live Well