Linley Park Debuts Upgrades, Expansion
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
In Feb. 1977, Anderson City Council named the median area on North Avenue from the intersection of Glenwood Street to Boundary Street "Linley Park" after the late John W. Linley, who donated land in north Anderson for mini-parks.
On Friday, the city hosted an official ribbon-cutting for the new, $13.4 million expanded park which features the restoration of Whitner Creek, a new playground, a 1,200-square-foot pavilion, restrooms and soon will also include improved traffic flow around the park.
The 8.8 acres that comprises the lower is connected to the 5.1 acres of the northern end of Linley Park which was upgraded with walking trails and other beautification efforts in 2013.
The playground design was built, in part, based on input from local children at public meetings held during the planning stages. It offers state-of-the-art equipment suitable for all ages and abilities, with rubberized surfacing installed for safety, and integrated shade will provide comfort.
The restoration of 1,400 feet of Whitner Creek will not only return the stream to its original site, it will improve stormwater management within the watershed, replacing the aging concrete culver.
Still under construction is the “peanut-a-about” intersection, a roundabout aimed at improving traffic flow at the multi-road intersection of Glenwood Avenue, North Avenue, Club Drive, Watson Drive and Blair Street. New signals at the site are expected to improve safety for pedestrians using the park as well as improve traffic patterns.
John W. Linley, the namesake of the park, was a Charleston native who moved to Anderson in 1900 as a school principal, who soon became an influential builder in the city. Linley developed a large portion of north Anderson, including Moultrie Square, Jackson Square, Gadsen Square, Hampton Fields and Woodlands Heights. He also founded North Anderson School.
Linley built the city's first street railway, the North Anderson Street Railway. Originally horse drawn, it ran from Glenwood and North Avenue (the site of the current park) to downtown.
