Greenville County is moving forward with plans to turn the former Oakland Plantation site near Simpsonville into a new regional park, marking the county's first new public park in more than 15 years. The property sits on Adams Mill Road in a stretch of the county wedged between Simpsonville and Five Forks that has seen rapid growth in recent years.
According to WSPA 7News, the park would be the county's first new public park in more than 15 years. The station also reported on the proposal in a segment describing a 55-acre park for the fast-growing area, while several other outlets have described the site itself as 52 acres — a discrepancy that has not been resolved in public reporting so far.
The Post and Courier reports that Greenville County officially took ownership of the property on May 29, 2024, clearing the way for the park project. The outlet's reporting describes the land as sitting off Adams Mill Road in a rapidly growing area between Simpsonville and Five Forks, consistent with other accounts of the surrounding development pressure.
Conflicting Accounts of Who Bought the Land, and for How Much
WSPA has reported that the county bought the land for $1 million in 2024. The Greenville Journal, however, reported that the Upstate Preservation Trust purchased the property from the YMCA of Greenville for $1.2 million, with backing from conservation and historic-resources groups.
What is consistent across the reporting is the site's history. FOX Carolina notes that the park would stand on the property formerly known as Oakland Plantation. The Greenville Journal reports that the main house on the site was built in 1823 by Dr. Thomas Austin, making it well over 200 years old.
Preserving a 19th-Century House and Slave Quarters
County plans call for restoring not just the main plantation house but 10 outbuildings as well, including what the Post and Courier describes as one of the last intact slave quarters remaining in Greenville County. The same report states the park will include nature trails and educational resources housed in the refurbished buildings.
The Greenville County Historic and Natural Resources Trust has framed the project as an effort to balance history with recreation. In an update on its website, the trust said the park would include “a focus on our area's plantation history while providing significant space for unstructured play and outdoor exploration.” The trust also noted the park sits in one of the county's fastest-growing areas.
Growth Pressure Driving the Push for New Park Space
That growth has shaped how county officials and preservation advocates are talking about the project. A board member with the Greenville County Historic and Natural Resources Trust told WSPA that population growth is part of why the area needs the new park space, though the station's report did not elaborate further on specific population figures tied to that assessment.
Despite the momentum behind the project, several major details remain unsettled. WSPA reports it is unclear how long it could take to open the park or how much the overall project may ultimately cost. No timeline or final design has been confirmed publicly, and the discrepancies over the property's size and purchase price underscore how much about the project is still coming into focus as plans continue to develop.
