Blue Ridge Country May/June 2022 - 74

LEADERS BY NATURE: THE MOUNTAIN Q & A
KNOX WHITE, MAYOR:
Small City on a Big Rise
The mayor of Greenville, South Carolina, is a champion for the urban and the wild,
and helped turn a neglected natural resource into a spectacular gem that makes this
small city a national destination and a magnet for visitors.
Interview by MARY LEIDIG | Photo courtesy KNOX WHITE
tined for big things, but every day brings another fantastic
idea or project to my desk.
Much has changed since you became mayor. Take
us along this journey to discovering what you call
" the heart of Greenville. "
It all began with the waterfalls in downtown. People
thought I was crazy, but I just knew that if we started by
removing the highway bridge that covered one of our
most beautiful natural features, everything else would
follow.
Mayor White, tell us about your family and your
favorite part of living and working in Greenville.
My wife, Marsha, and I have always loved going to the
beautiful state parks in and around Greenville-like Caesars
Head, Table Rock and Paris Mountain-to hike and
enjoy nature. Even before Falls Park on the Reedy existed
downtown, I took my children, Knox Jr. and Marian, to
explore the riverbank and see these falls. They have a great
love of nature, and our family really enjoys being in a city
that values parks and greenspace.
Greenville is your hometown, and one that you say
used to be a " fly over zone. " Did you imagine this
small city would become a nationally ranked travel
destination and a Top 10 City for Best City Parks?
I came into office in 1995 with a vision for this city. Our
focus on making Greenville the most beautiful, livable
city in America really speaks to creating an environment
that our residents are incredibly proud of and a place
where everyone loves to live.
That vision has taken shape and evolved in a way we
are all very proud of. We always knew Greenville was des74
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What do outdoor enthusiasts and visitors find
today in Downtown Greenville?
I definitely encourage them to come and see for themselves!
There really is something here for everyone. Falls
Park, our nine-acre park in the middle of downtown, features
our signature suspension bridge over the falls and
stunning gardens. There's Swamp Rabbit Trail, our popular
pedestrian and biking trail that connects Cleveland
Park with Unity Park-a new 60-acre park along the river
featuring open greenspace, multiple playgrounds, a splash
pad for kids, baseball field and more. And of course, our
award-winning tree-lined Main Street is not to be missed!
What is one of the biggest surprises in your 25-plus
years as mayor, and what's next?
During COVID, I learned that Greenville already had a lot
of fortifying features that many cities were struggling to
create in the midst of a pandemic. We saw restaurants easily
expand their already existing outdoor dining, residents
enjoying our many parks and outdoor spaces, and people
flocking to live here when many other cities were facing
an exodus. Our focus and efforts over all these years made
our city welcoming and comfortable, even when times
were challenging.
What's next? Unity Park-the most transformative
project of my tenure as mayor. Unity Park fulfills a century-old
promise to the residents of a previously forgotten
neighborhood and connects it to the prosperity of our
beautiful downtown. I hope this park will be my legacy
and will bring our community even closer by giving citizens
and visitors of all ages a place to enjoy together.
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Blue Ridge Country May/June 2022

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