The post Parkour Mama Yu Hannah Kim on fulfillment, fun, and fitness appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.

Snowfall in Unity Park

Photos of Unity Park by Megan Fitzgerald

Snowfall in downtown Greenville

Snow in Northern Greenville-Lake Robinson

The post Photos and video: Snow day in the Upstate appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.

The open-air chapel has been closed since late September 2024 after the storm ripped off part of the structure’s roof. The chapel’s wooden benches also sustained significant water damage. 

Sam Franklin, CEO and president of YMCA of Greenville, said approximately $455,000 in repairs were completed to the chapel including replacing the roof, installing new wood/metal benches, adding water drainage protectors and more. Hogan Construction Group was hired to complete the work.

“We wanted to make sure that the original rustic feel of the chapel was maintained,” Franklin said. “It’s a landmark for not just this area but for our state and so we’re just happy and excited to have it back open.”

Around 250 people traveled to the reopened chapel to watch the sunrise on the morning of Jan. 3. The famous structure, officially named Fred W. Symmes Chapel, sits at 3,200 feet atop Standing Stone Mountain in northern Greenville County. Tinisha Johnson, an Anderson County resident who visited the chapel on Jan. 3, said it was devastating to see such a beautiful place damaged by the storm. 

“I’m so glad that they were able to repair it and they were able to restore its natural beauty,” Johnson said. 

In addition to Pretty Place Chapel, tree removal and other storm repairs are underway throughout YMCA Camp Greenville. Franklin estimates Helene caused over a thousand trees to fall across the campus, damaging several cabins and areas around the 1,400-acre property.

Read more about YMCA Camp Greenville damages from Hurricane Helene 

“We’re probably about 75% to 80% done with the tree removal which is great,” Franklin said. “Most of the program areas have been cleared. The camper cabins have been repaired. 

Franklin said YMCA Camp Greenville will be ready by June for its summer programming. The YMCA of Greenville is accepting monetary donations to help cover the cost of the camp’s storm repairs. For more information, visit campgreenville.org. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Pretty Place (@ymcaprettyplace)

Cost estimates

$455,000: Pretty Place Chapel repairs (roof replacement, new benches, etc.)

Approximately $700,000: Tree removal and cabin repairs across YMCA Camp Greenville

Pretty Place fast facts

Pretty Place Chapel, officially named Fred W. Symmes Chapel, was built in 1941.

The chapel welcomes more than 325,000 people each year.

Around 550 wedding ceremonies are held at the chapel each year.

162 weddings had to be canceled after the chapel was damaged by Hurricane Helene.

Visitation schedule

Pretty Place Chapel officially reopened on Jan. 3. To view the chapel’s visitation schedule, visit campgreenville.org/visitation-schedule.

The post Pretty Place chapel reopens following Hurricane Helene repairs appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.

The post Photos and video: 2025 Paris Mountain Polar Plunge appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.

City Hall to be rebuilt

Greenville City Hall will be demolished to construct a new building in the same location at 206 S. Main St. Five to six floors of the new structure will house City Hall with the remaining space for residential and commercial tenants. The city plans to invest $10 million into the project, which will be completed through a public-private partnership. City Council approved a non-binding letter of intent with M Peters Group in September; however, a formal development agreement has yet to be signed between both parties. 

City parks continue to evolve

Some of the city’s parks hit major milestones in 2024. Unity Park saw several grand openings and the groundbreaking of the future Thomas A. and Vivian Wong Honor Tower. The city secured property to build a future skatepark and paved pump track next to the Greenville Downtown Airport. Falls Park in downtown Greenville celebrated its 20th anniversary in September. Gower Park also reopened following renovations which added new pickleball, tennis and basketball courts to the park. 

Affordable housing efforts carry on

Several strides were made by the city this past year to help create more affordable housing in the area. Approximately $4.45 million was specifically earmarked for affordable housing in the city’s operating budget for fiscal year 2025. The city purchased 36 parcels in the Haynie-Sirrine neighborhood for $10.7 million to add affordable housing and green space to the site. The city also supported several efforts made by the Greenville Housing Fund to create and preserve affordable housing in the area. 

Roadway safety projects move forward

The city’s engineering team was busy in 2024 planning out several roadway projects. The team crafted a finalized list of traffic and pedestrian safety enhancements along Augusta Street in April. The following month, new conceptual plans for roadway improvements along Wade Hampton Boulevard were unveiled to the public. Other planned roadway projects include Pendleton Street, East North Street, Dunbar Street and Green Avenue.

Neighborhood master plans updated

Two neighborhood master plans were updated in 2024. The city worked with neighborhood stakeholders and residents to create a new plan for the Haynie-Sirrine neighborhood. The plan outlines strategies to balance new development with the preservation of the existing neighborhood. Greenville City Council recently approved the updated master plan for the Greenline-Spartanburg neighborhood. The recommendations within the plan focus on affordable housing and infrastructure updates.

The post 2024 rewind: City of Greenville appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.

Bon Secours Wellness Arena plans extensive renovation

The Greenville Arena District announced an estimated $170 million renovation and expansion project for the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. LS3P, in partnership with Gensler and LMN Architects, are currently creating a 25-year master plan that provides a comprehensive roadmap for the revitalization project. Some of the plan’s recommendations will focus on improving the area’s client and guest experience and better connecting the site to downtown Greenville. The master planning effort is expected to take six to nine months to complete.

Prisma Health expands operations

Large investments were made by Prisma Health to expand its services in the Upstate. The health care system unveiled plans to build a $138 million inpatient behavioral health hospital in Pickens County. The Prisma Health-Upstate Foundation launched a new campaign called OneDay to raise funding for the project. Prisma Health also opened a $32 million outpatient surgery center in Greenville and a $2.3 million adaptive sports and wellness center in Unity Park. The health care system also provided a $1.5 million gift for Greenville Technical College’s new Prisma Health Center for Health & Life Sciences.

Artisphere celebrates 20th year

Artisphere turned 20 years old in 2024. Over 100,000 people attended the annual arts festival held May 10-12 along Main Street in downtown Greenville. The festival featured 140 artists from 28 states, various culinary offerings, hands-on art exhibits and several live performances. Overall, this year’s event had an estimated $14.1 million economic impact. A new sculpture called “Tandem Lovers” was also unveiled to commemorate the festival’s 20th anniversary. The sculpture is located on the northeast corner of the Main Street bridge.

Salvation Army unveils revitalization project

The Salvation Army of Greenville, Pickens and Oconee Counties, SC plans to complete a $16 million renovation of its Social Services campus on Rutherford Street. The renovation will expand the capacity of the homeless shelter and enhance the security of the 45,000-square-foot campus. A capital campaign was launched in May for the revitalization project, which received a $500,000 state grant. With the grant, the nonprofit has raised about $10 million for the project.

Meyer Center marks 70 years of service

The Meyer Center for Special Children in Greenville celebrated its 70th year in 2024. The nonprofit provides speech, occupational and physical therapy in a preschool environment to children with disabilities. The Meyer Center launched an annual giving goal of $700,000 to prepare for the next 70 years. In December, the center held its 25th annual holiday luncheon, raising $473,023.

The post 2024 rewind: Community, nonprofit and health appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.

The post 2024 rewind: Photos appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.

In the early hours of Friday, Sept. 27, Hurricane Helene swept through the Upstate. The eye passed closer than expected, exposing Greenville and the surrounding area to winds as high as 90 mph.

The post 2024 rewind: Hurricane Helene appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.

Nearly $1 billion in new manufacturing projects

The year started off in February with EnerSys, a global manufacturer of energy-storage systems, announcing an investment of $500 million that will create 500 new jobs with a lithium-ion battery production facility in Greenville County.

The new 500,000-square-foot facility will be located on 140 acres in the Augusta Grove Business Park off Bracken Road in the southern part of the county.

According to the company, the new facility will be its second in South Carolina and will focus on producing lithium-ion cells for commercial, industrial and defense applications.

Another $400 million set of investment announcements came in December with a pair of expansions by Magna International to its operations in Piedmont totaling $194 million and expected to create about 200 new jobs.

Another $216 million announcement involved an as-yet-unnamed company for a new motor vehicle production facility, also in Piedmont, that is expected to create more than 700 new jobs.

Read more business news on UpstateBusinessJournal.com

Phase 2 of County Square redevelopment gets underway

The second phase of the $1 billion County Square project got underway early this year with demolition and infrastructure work.

Demolition of the old Greenville County administrative building was followed by site work, which involved reconfiguring University Ridge and infrastructure improvements.

Once complete, the project will involve about a dozen new mixed-use buildings incorporating residential, office, hotel, food and beverage, and other retail uses.

Clemson college of veterinary medicine breaks ground

The state’s first college of veterinary medicine moved firmly from the drawing board to reality with the November groundbreaking of the Clemson University Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine. Clemson’s board of trustees approved plans for the college in 2023 and hired the college’s first dean, Steven Marks.

The curriculum for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree program was approved this year, and the college continues to hire faculty and seek accreditation for the program through the American Veterinary Medical Association. The inaugural class of 80 students is expected to enroll in 2026.

Liquor liability insurance squeezes food and beverage industry

Skyrocketing costs for liquor liability insurance continued to put stress on the state’s $22 billion food and beverage industry this year and reform hopes were dashed when the General Assembly adjourned without taking action on the issue.

The issue has yet to capture widespread public concern and was overshadowed by other issues leading up to November’s general election. Industry leaders are organizing to make the matter a priority in the coming legislative session.

BMW, Michelin celebrate major milestones

Two of the state’s most significant corporate citizens celebrated major milestones. BMW Manufacturing celebrated its 30th anniversary in the Palmetto State in June, and Michelin North America celebrated its 50th anniversary in September.

Over several decades the two companies have had a profound impact on the state’s economy and helped supercharge South Carolina’s drive to become a manufacturing powerhouse.

The post 2024 rewind: Business and development appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.

Among the most significant arts events of the year was a major changing of the guard at the Greenville Symphony Orchestra. Lee Mills began his tenure in September as conductor and music director of the orchestra with triumphant performances of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

Mills succeeded Edvard Tchivzhel, the charismatic leader of the orchestra for almost a quarter of a century — a notably long tenure for an American orchestral conductor.

Meanwhile, Bing Vick, longtime artistic director and conductor of the Greenville Chorale, began his final full season leading the 160-voice choral ensemble. Vick concludes his tenure in September 2025, marking his 45th year conducting the chorale.

In July, the Greenville arts community mourned the death of Christian Elser, 53, an iconoclastic arts leader who with his then-wife Jenna Tamisiea created Glow Lyric Theatre in 2009. Glow was known for staging bold, daring productions of opera and musical theater that grappled with contemporary social and political issues. Elser, Glow’s executive director, died July 20 at Duke University Hospital after a long battle with a rare lung disease. It’s uncertain whether Glow will be revived.

Throughout 2024, the Peace Center’s Broadway Series continued to bring world-class musical theater to the Upstate. Greenville has long punched above its weight with Broadway tours. The same blockbuster musicals that play at the Peace Center also tour to Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta and other major metropolitan areas.

The 2024-25 Broadway Series opened in September to packed houses with Disney’s ever-popular “The Lion King.” In October, “& Juliet” raised the rafters with a story that imagines what might have happened if Shakespeare’s Juliet had not died but lived to enjoy a life set to a pop-rock soundtrack. The theatrical dazzle continues in 2025, with eight musicals, including “Hamilton” and “Moulin Rouge,” scheduled at the Peace Center in the next eight months.

Record-breakers

Centre Stage enjoyed record-breaking ticket sales for “Legally Blonde” and “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.”With 22 actors on stage, plus two dogs, “Legally Blonde” spotlighted one of the largest casts ever for the theater. The theater’s second Fringe Festival, with fringe plays performed in the span of several weeks, proved an artistic and box office success.

Greenville Theatre’s staging of the thriller “Dial M for Murder” was an audience favorite. Its recently completed “Anastasia,” meanwhile, is likely one of the theater’s top-selling shows of all time. The latter show was particularly ambitious, with dozens of lavish costumes designed and created in-house.

The Warehouse Theatre burnished its reputation for edgy and thought-provoking fare in 2024 with big hits such as Stephen Sondheim’s “Assassins” and Stefano Massini’s “The Lehman Trilogy,” the latter featuring tour-de-force performances by Thomas Azar, Matt Reece and Christopher Joel Onken.

The South Carolina Children’s Theatre brought in new patrons with its ambitious production of “The SpongeBob Musical,” with a big cast that included Carter Allen, Adell Ehrhorn, Mitchell Smith and Javy Pagan.

The Mauldin Theatre Company, led by Kristofer Parker, staged ambitious and well-received musicals such as “A Chorus Line” and “Sweeney Todd.”

Will Ragland’s Mill Town Players performed to more than 25,000 patrons in Pelzer, featuring musicals, comedies and concerts. The company offered its most ambitious summer musical to date with “Bonnie & Clyde,” spotlighting 21 local actors and eight onstage musicians.

Clemson’s Brooks Center for the Performing Arts offered a variety of entertainment, including a sold-out performance of the biographical musical “The Cher Show.” The center’s acclaimed Utsey Series, meanwhile, continued to host admission-free performances of world-class chamber music.

Arts groups finished the year strong with seasonal offerings. International Ballet sold out three performances of “The Nutcracker” at the Peace Center, inspiring the ballet company to schedule four performances of the popular ballet next year. Carolina Ballet Theatre also enjoyed strong ticket sales for its Greenville-centered “Nutcracker.” A near-capacity audience attended the Greenville Chorale’s Dec. 14 performance of Handel’s “Messiah” at Furman University’s McAlister Auditorium.

Other Upstate community theaters, arts groups and university theaters reported strong attendance and notable artistic accomplishments in 2024.

With the considerable disruptions of the pandemic now a distant memory, Greenville arts groups are optimistic and poised to build on their successes in 2025.

The post 2024 rewind: Greenville arts year marked by triumphs, change and loss appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.

For local businesses specializing in food and drink, 2024 was a year of openings, closings and changes.

Skyrocketing liability insurance continued to plague the city’s food and beverage industry, leading to closures throughout the year. Some of those included Blind Horse Saloon and The Velo Fellow.

The long-awaited opening of BridgeWay Station occurred in the spring, bringing with it BridgeWay Brewing Co., Tavola Italian and more. The Mauldin development is also home to a food hall which opened in April and an extension of the Stella’s brand, Rôtie by Stella’s.

Local chefs and restaurateurs celebrated notable achievements. Jianna chef Michael Kramer launched his cookbook, “Jianna,” in September. Comal 864’s Dayna Lee-Márquez appeared on the Food Network’s “Beat Bobby Flay” in May.

The post 2024 rewind: Food and drink appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.

***

Penny tax for roads referendum fails

Facing an estimated $3 billion road repair backlog, Greenville County Council spent much of 2024 putting together a proposal to impose a capital projects local option sales tax on the November ballot.

While it was narrowly defeated by about 7,200 votes, the measure would have increased the sales tax in the county by 1% and generated about $1 billion over the eight years for which it was proposed. Without the tax, the county is left reliant on about $12 million it generates annually through its road maintenance fees.

***

UDO crosses the finish line

Years of effort to produce a unified development ordinance finally bore fruit in December when council formally adopted the measure. The UDO is aimed at streamlining and modernizing the county’s land use and zoning regulations.

After several lengthy discussions, it became clear many council members viewed it as a flawed document but a decided improvement over the regulations it replaced. It is all but certain council will consider amendments and further refinements in the coming year.

***

County establishes first new regional park in 15 years

In May the county took ownership of the historic Oakland Plantation to create the first new regional park in 15 years.

The 52-acre property on Adams Mill Road in the rapidly growing Five Forks area near Simpsonville was purchased by Upstate Preservation Trust from the YMCA of Greenville for $1.2 million with funding provided by the Greenville County Historic and Natural Resources Trust and the South Carolina Conservation Bank.

The goal was to preserve the property for a public park and restore the site’s historic structures, including a barn which contains one of three remaining slave dwellings in Greenville County. Planning for the park is ongoing but is expected to include educational components centered on the historic structures.

***

Gowensville citizen effort leads to initial zoning

After more than a year of grassroots efforts to obtain zoning protections for properties in the rural Gowensville community in the northern part of the county, council approved initial zoning for more than 2,700 acres in December.

Spearheaded by Preserve Gowensville, a group of area residents organized to protect the rural character of the region, the effort secured the endorsement of more than 200 property owners.

The properties were assigned a mix of agricultural preservation district, rural residential and residential suburban zoning classifications.

The post 2024 rewind: Greenville County appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.

The post A look back at Greenville Journal covers in 2024 appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.

Field Notes: Do black snakes really kill rattlesnakes and copperheads?

The short answer is: yes and no.

Among the three black snakes that we have in our area, two of them do kill and consume both venomous snakes, but the largest and most commonly encountered, the black rat snake, does not.

Never smash a yellow jacket: Field Notes with Dennis Chastain

Sometimes the lessons of nature come from quiet observation and contemplation. Sometimes they come in a wild, painful frenzy. It’s the painful ones that you never forget.

3 Greenville area restaurants earn James Beard semifinalist nominations

The James Beard Foundation announced its 2024 semifinalist nominees for the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards categories on Jan. 24, and three Upstate restaurants made the list.

New Greenville elementary school under construction, to be named in May

Construction is underway for the new elementary school at 61 Isbell Lane in Greenville.

Set to open for the 2025-26 school year, the new school will have an academic focus on environmental science and serve pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade students. The facility was designed to accommodate up to 750 students with room for future expansion.

Six Greenville County high schools among top 25 in U.S. News SC rankings

U.S. News & World Report ranked six Greenville County high schools among the top 25 in its 2024-2025 Best Public High Schools in South Carolina list.

Skyrocketing insurance costs are closing bars, businesses. Will SC act in 2024?

Time is running out this session for the General Assembly to tackle a range of matters.

Perhaps none is more pressing than the need to remedy skyrocketing liquor liability insurance costs for the state’s restaurants and bars.

Greenville County may get new state park after Naturaland Trust conservation effort

An effort to protect a 365-acre piece of property in northern Greenville County from development may yield a new state park if all the pieces fall into place.

The parcel is near the intersection of Dill Road and state Highway 11, and Naturaland Trust has been working for months to secure funding for a fee-simple purchase of the property, which the trust has dubbed the Glassy Mountain Foothills project.

Greenville swimmer to compete in U.S. Olympic Trials

Lilla Bognar thinks of herself as a regular kid.

She is a rising senior at Eastside High School and a member of the Team Greenville swim team. She has already committed to the University of Florida after graduation in 2025, and looks forward to attending medical school to become a pediatrician.

Breeze Airways spins up new GSP destinations, targets underserved cities

Connecting people and communities is something of a passion for David Neeleman, founder and CEO of Breeze Airways, which started nonstop service to five destinations from Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in early May.

Prior to launching Breeze in 2018, he founded Utah-based Morris Air in 1984, followed by Canada’s WestJet in 1994, JetBlue in 1998, and Brazil’s Azul in 2008.

How you can help: Ways to donate, volunteer after Hurricane Helene

Many organizations in the Upstate are supported the local community following the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene.

The post 2024 rewind: Top stories online appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.

‘The Nightingale’ by Kristin Hannah

‘Edge of Collapse’ by Kyla Stone

I really got into post-apocalyptic books at one point this year. Kyla Stone’s “Edge of Collapse” series had me engrossed with good, complex characters and dialogue and scenarios that aren’t too far out of the range of possibilities of what could happen.

— Sherry Jackson, vice president, content and digital, Community Journals

‘Planet Walker’ by John Francis

‘Their Eyes Were Watching God’ by Zora Neale Hurston

My book club selects a classic each year, and this year we read “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” a book I somehow missed as a student. I became captivated by the vivid language and by Janie’s compelling inner dialogue as she created a fulfilling life amid difficult circumstances. Published in 1937, the themes of independence and self-determination still resonate today. I am not an audiobook person (yet), but I did listen to part of this book on a long drive, and actress Ruby Dee’s masterful narration took the story to new heights.

— Leigh Savage, executive editor, TOWN and atHome magazines

‘The Defining Decade’ by Meg Jay

Oh, 20s. Volatile, formative, anxiety producing 20s. This book is a must for anyone who is close too, deep in, or just past their twentysomething years. Highlighting real life twentysomethings and their personal trials and tribulations, this book is eerily relatable, in the absolute best ways. I left this read with applicable tools to tackle the woes of careers and jobs, money and relationships, and finding little parts of myself along the way.

— Marissa McClain, executive assistant and account manager, Community Journals

‘Rabid: A Cultural History of the World’s Most Diabolical Virus’ by Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy

‘Theo of Golden’ by Allen Levi

‘The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America’ by Coleman Hughes

‘When Cicadas Cry’ by Caroline Cleveland

The Seven and Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

I originally bought this book on whim. A murder mystery with a gorgeous cover? Im sold. I did not intend to love this book to a point of suggesting It to anyone who will listen. An interesting spin on the usual who-done-it, the reader lives the same day over and over, and each day wakes up as a different person. I loved trying to solve this mystery through the eyes of everyone involved, as well as the creativity behind experiencing each person’s personal strife. Overall, I found this different and interesting and will be reading the rest of what Stuart Turton has to offer.
— Anna Walker, graphic designer, Community Journals

The post 2024 rewind: Books we loved appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.