Forever Wildwood, a campaign to secure financial and other resources in support of the continued development of Greenville’s Wildwood Park, was recently launched by the Wildwood Park Resource Office.

The park sits on the north bank of the Tar River at 3450 Blue Heron Drive in NE Greenville, and public access to its eastern half became available last fall.  Long in the works, acquisition of the land and development of this 365 acre riverside “adventure park” was a recommendation of 2014’s Tar River Legacy Plan.

A “gift that will keep on giving” is how Wildwood is described, as planners envision a unique, exciting and special place that will be benefitting area residents and visitors well into the next century.  Actual planning and development is the responsibility of the City of Greenville’s Recreation and Parks Department, under the leadership of Director Don Octigan.

Phase I development began last spring, thanks to City support and a generous donation from Grady-White Boats. In the fall, citizens began visiting the park’s eastern acreage, which includes 1.5 miles of natural surface trails, a small beach, a kayak and canoe launch, shelters, a camping platform and beautiful vistas.

This one-of-a-kind, riverside park features two large lakes, extensive shorelines, open shelters, a canoe/kayak launch, and a stream connecting the east side lake to the Tar River.  Future plans include various outdoor recreational amenities such as an observation tower, boardwalks, bridges, mountain bike course, pump track, zip lines, fishing pier, enclosable shelter, boat ramp and a nature themed-playground.

Wildwood’s enduring impacts are nearly unlimited, and the City of Greenville recognizes its potential for providing long term benefits. It’s an investment with a continual return, so there’s a commitment to assuring the park remains among City and Recreation and Parks Department priorities.

But to reach its true potential, the project also will require other sources of support, and the “Forever Wildwood” campaign has been established to foster community involvement and ownership, and help secure additional assistance for future development.  Some park elements will be available for sponsorship, with naming rights a possibility.

Through contributing some form of support to that development, businesses, individuals, families, corporate organizations, professional associations and service clubs can become a partner in the Wildwood project.

A two minute promotional video is available here.

A group of citizens who believe strongly in Wildwood’s potential to bring significant economic and quality-of-life benefits to the area have come together to form the Wildwood Park Resource Team, in order to provide support for Wildwood and encourage others to do the same.

The Community Foundation of North Carolina East (www.cfnceast.org) is serving as the depository for each tax-deductible gift.

Additional details are available from the Wildwood Park Resource Office (wildwood@remove-thisgreenvillenc.gov; 252-329-WILD.)