FOREST ACRES, S.C. — As the former Richland Mall demolition progresses, Forest Acres city leaders are forging ahead with plans to transform part of the site into a new public park. A preliminary drawing for the six-acre plot behind the mall was revealed Monday, offering the community a glimpse of the space's future.
“We don’t have anything of this scale and so it’s exciting to think we can have a true tree lighting at Christmas or an event that doesn't have two or three hundred people. It can have I think they said a couple of thousand,” said Forest Acres Mayor Thomas Andrews.
Currently, the area is just a small part of the ongoing demolition, but in a few years, it could become a large-scale outdoor park space that caters to the entire Forest Acres community.
“It has elements that appeal to, you know, our older residents but, also our younger residents. It’s an exciting space and exciting idea,” Andrews added.
The city has reviewed a park plan and is working closely with a landscape architect, LandPlan Group South, to ensure the project aligns with the broader redevelopment of the former mall area. Southern Development is leading this redevelopment at the intersection of Forest Drive and Beltline Boulevard, including apartments, businesses, a grocery store, a brewery, and more.
“To work with the developer to make sure we’re not building a park in isolation and they are not building a development in isolation—they work together and enhance each other so they all flourish,” Andrews said.
The park's design includes an amphitheater on the left side, a large lawn space in the middle, and an area for a farmers market on the right. The park will also feature additional seating, a children’s playground, and 80 parking spots. The space will accommodate up to 3,000 people standing on grassy surfaces, with room for more in other areas.
Local parents and business owners are enthusiastic about the proposed park.
“I saw the plans, it's really exciting to see there could be more green spaces to hang out in and to take your family, and I think it’s a great idea,” said Joni Volious, a parent in the community.
“We don’t have anything of that caliber here, and I do get a lot of parents coming in who want more places to take their kids especially outside,” said Kaylee Battle, owner of Flour Power Cooking Studios.
City leaders say the project is still years out from being complete.
The city administrator will collect feedback from the council over the next week, with a final plan expected sometime next month.