Wednesday, October 15, 2014

The Aviation Park at GMU

The Greenville Downtown Airport Park has become one of our very favorite parks here in the Upstate, and it just keeps getting better! Last time I wrote about the park it was still in the early stages, with only the amphitheater, runways, grass and fencing installed (see post “Watching the planes at the airport downtown”). The playground equipment for children 2-5 was installed in June of last year, including a set with slides, bridges, climbers and pilot panel, a swing set, a bi-plane climber and two 2-seat airplane bouncers.


In December a Cessna 310 “landed” in the park, providing a great backdrop to what was going to be the pavilion. Then this June, the playset for older children was installed, but we still mostly visited the park very early in the morning as there was a lack of shade on hot summer days. Still, the boys love the newest addition to the Greenville park scene.


The lack of shade was why we were excited to see the picnic hangar with tables completed before the end of the summer, as it gave us a place to get out of the sun for a water break or snack. Then there are days like this past Monday, when we arrived at the park after two days of rain and the hanger provided a dry spot for home base.


Greenville Tech took an old Boeing 737 and converted the fuselage to what will be the park entrance. The Greenville Downtown Airport Park Project is still raising funds for the installation of the entrance and front fencing, park benches, educational signage and restrooms. To donate to the project please visit the Greenville Downtown Airport website


The park isn't the only reason to visit the downtown airport, as there are frequently aviation-themed events taking place in or around the airport. This weekend is no different; Friday the Collings Foundation Wings of Freedom tour will be returning to Greenville, you can read my post “WWII bombers in Greenville” about their visit last year here. Of course the Runway Cafe and their fried oreos provide another good reason to visit...


Finally, the local family website Kidding Around Greenville has created a photo scavenger hunt for children ages 2 to 5. We had fun placing the pictures to things found in the park! The scavenger hunt info and pictures are found here.

 
Almost there! Source here


12 comments:

  1. Labdien Liene...now this looks like one cool park! Your little ones will love it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They do, especially when joined by friends. Thanks Dzintra!

      Delete
  2. This park looks amazing. We would like to go to it...:)

    ReplyDelete
  3. How neat... Your city is really on top of things.. I love it when the city 'invests' in projects like that one... Once someone puts some money into something, they not only feel good about it --but they have a vested interest in keeping it in good shape..... I'm sure that Airport/Aviation Park will just get better and better... SO NEAT.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This park will have been entirely funded by private donations, and I'm very proud of Greenville for making it happen!

      Delete
  4. *Very* cool park. When he was two or three, one of my nephew's favorite spots to hang out was a field not far from the Grand Rapids airport where you can watch planes take off and land, but that's nothing compared to this!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And it isn't exactly like Ferris Bueller's Day Off either, but definitely better for small children!

      Delete
  5. I'm so glad that you had a good time. I wasn't able to see the WWII airplanes myself but my husband and kids went. Thanks for the link to the scavenger hunt as well! I'm glad that it provided some fun for you. : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We are looking forward to more Kidding Around Greenville scavenger hunts - the boys are the perfect age!

      Delete
  6. This is excellent, a great place for little ones to use up their daily energy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sure is! And the restaurant next door has fried Oreos - a great place for moms to recharge ;)

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...