Disc News

Looking for a neighborhood that has it all? The Upstate is home to several communities that are walkable with convenient access to things like pools, walking paths, gyms, restaurants, and shopping. In this guest post, our partner realtor Dan Hamilton describes some of his favorite features of some of these unique Upstate neighborhoods.

Where in Greenville, SC can you live with walkable amenities? 

There are countless places to call home in Upstate, SC. For those who may be interested in a home within walking distance of activities, shopping, or dining, this guide is for you! Today we are breaking down Upstate neighborhoods with amazing amenities like pools, walking trails, and sports facilities, along with others that are right next to some unique shopping and retail locations.

Skip the car ride and settle down in one of these walkable neighborhood communities! 

If you would like to learn more about one of these communities or are interested in finding the perfect home for you and your family, give Hamilton & Co. a call at 864-527-7685 or fill out our interest form (if you’re interested in selling, fill this one out). We are the highest-ranked real estate team in the Upstate and would love to help you make Greenville home!

Acadia 

Situated on the Saluda River in Piedmont, SC, the Acadia community embodies outdoor living. And while Acadia feels secluded and close to nature, you don’t have to sacrifice convenience! The community is only a short 15-minute drive from Downtown Greenville.

This gorgeous community features a variety of home styles depending on your preference, from 1800 square foot cottages to 6000 square foot estates, with more neighborhoods coming soon. Acadia is zoned for Sue Cleveland Elementary, Woodmont Middle School, and Woodmont High School. 

While Acadia’s homes are beautiful, it is their natural setting and generous amenities that truly stand out. Sports enthusiasts will find tennis and pickleball courts, soccer and playfields, and a Jr. Olympic lap pool. The community also has its own Youth Soccer Club and Swim Team. In addition to state-of-the-art sports facilities, Acadia features a PoolHouse lounge, concession kitchen, gym with locker rooms, outdoor pavilion for community events, and a host of community-led clubs. 

If you enjoy living in a community with others and have a love for the outdoors, Acadia is a wonderful place to live! 

Alta Vista 

Conveniently located between Augusta Road, Faris Road, and Church Street, historic Alta Vista is the epitome of downtown Greenville living. 

Homes in the Alta Vista district are upscale and luxurious, featuring a mix of traditional, Tudor, and cottage styles. Lots are large and stately with mature landscaping and gorgeous trees as old as the city itself. Schools in this community include Augusta Circle Elementary, Hughes Middle Academy, and Greenville High Academy.

A short drive from Main Street and Augusta Road amenities, Alta Vista residents have access to the best dining, shopping, and entertainment Greenville has to offer. Many of Greenville’s most beautiful parks, including Falls Park, Cancer Survivors Park, Cleveland Park, and the Rock Quarry Garden, are only a short walk from the community. 

If you enjoy city living with accessible amenities and walkable parks, Alta Vista and the surrounding districts are excellent places to call home! 

Botany Woods 

About 10 minutes east of Downtown Greenville is Botany Woods, a popular community just off Wade Hampton Boulevard. 

Botany Woods features a variety of home styles from traditional to contemporary estates and ranch style homes. Streets are lined with tall oaks, stately magnolias, and blooming azaleas in this established neighborhood. Schools near this community include Lake Forest Elementary, League Middle Academy, and Wade Hampton High.

In addition to its proximity to Wade Hampton retail, dining, and recreation as well as downtown Greenville, Botany Woods offers its residents many amenities. The private pool is open to all residents and hosts a community swim team. A ball field, playground, and community picnic shelter all encourage residents to get outside and active. Additionally, membership to Carolina Golf Club at Botany Woods is discounted for all residents. For those interested in exploring one of Greenville’s surrounding towns, downtown Greer is a short 20-minute drive from Botany Woods and features locally-owned boutiques, a peaceful park, and some of the best restaurants in the Upstate.

Botany Woods is a quiet community just outside the city, providing its residents with the opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life without sacrificing the amenities. 

Gower Estates

One of the most popular neighborhoods in the Upstate, Gower Estates is a short 10-minute drive south of downtown Greenville. Gower is centrally located-living at its finest. In addition to its proximity to downtown Greenville, Gower sits just off Laurens Road and is only 10 minutes away from Woodruff Road, both of which feature a host of shopping and dining opportunities, not to mention movie theaters, amusement parks, and more. 

Like many of the more established neighborhoods in the Upstate, Gower comprises a variety of quality built homes ranging from brick ranches to traditional styles and remodeled cottages. Homes in Gower typically sit back from the road on spacious lots and marry modern convenience with vintage charm. Families should note local schools include Sara Collins Elementary, Beck International Academy, and J.L. Mann High School.

Gower is known as a tight knit community with a host of engaging amenities. The community’s 21-acre Gower Park includes lighted baseball and softball fields, basketball courts, tennis and pickleball courts, and a 9-hole disc golf course. Paved walking trails, playgrounds, and 5 picnic shelters round out this exciting and diverse common area. Finally, Gower’s swimming pool and accompanying youth swim team is open to all residents. 

A short drive from Greenville and some of the Upstate’s most popular shopping and dining, Gower Estates is the perfect place for families valuing a walkable, tight-knit community.

Hartness

Hartness is one of the Upstate’s newest and most-anticipated planned communities, offering residents dozens of engaging activities and amenities. “Rather than spending valuable time looking for places to go and things to do,” Hartness Living remarks, “At Hartness you simply step outside your door.” Hartness is a little further away from downtown Greenville (about 20 minutes), but only 10 minutes from Five Forks on Woodruff Road, a popular shopping and dining area in between Simpsonville and Greenville. 

The Hartness community offers residents a variety of custom home layouts ranging from townhome to estate across multiple neighborhoods. Homes sit on smaller lots to accommodate for expansive common green spaces. Schools near Hartness include Oakview Elementary, Northwood Middle, and Eastside High School. 

Hartness dwellers enjoy a Grand Lawn for outdoor events, 15 miles of biking and walking trails across the 180-acre Nature Preserve, and a Sports Garden complete with basketball courts, a bocce court, croquet lawn, tennis and pickleball courts, playground, and open spaces with benches. Additionally, residents have access to kayaks and paddleboards for a relaxing day on the lake. The Village Center features a restaurant, The Village Kitchen, and a number of boutique shops (with more opening soon!). And don’t forget about the gym and spa! You will never run out of things to do at Hartness. 

Do you love staying on the move from the comfort of your home? Hartness embodies all-inclusive living.

Heritage Creek 

Only five minutes away from downtown Simpsonville and 15 minutes from Five Forks, Heritage Creek is a small neighborhood close to some big amenities. 

Heritage Creek homes were built by Crown and feature the Hunter Floor Plan and Craftsman accents. Unlike many home development companies, Crown left some large trees when developing Heritage Creek, so the neighborhood has fairly mature landscaping for its age. Families living in Heritage Creek often consider schools such as Bryson Elementary, Bryson Middle, and Hillcrest High School.

Heritage Creek provides its residents with a pool, playground, and multiple common areas. Just a five minute drive from Simpsonville, Heritage Creek residents have easy access to Main Street shopping and dining. A short walk from the community is Heritage Park, featuring six baseball/softball fields, playgrounds, picnic shelters, paved walking paths, and the Heritage Park Amphitheatre. 

At Heritage Creek, you can have all the benefits of a quiet suburban neighborhood without sacrificing any convenience. 

Hollingsworth Park at Verdae

Hollingsworth Park, like Hartness, has established neighborhoods for everything from townhomes to large multi-story estates in their community. Nestled between Woodruff and Verdae, Hollingsworth’s central location and proximity to Woodruff Road shopping and dining make it a popular choice for Upstate families. 

Every neighborhood in Hollingsworth Park has been meticulously planned to appear aesthetically unique while maintaining an “old town” feel. Schools near Hollingsworth Park include Pelham Road Elementary, Beck International Academy, and J. L. Mann High School.

Amenities in Hollingsworth Park have been designed to be within a 10-minute walking distance of one another, or around a half-mile. Legacy Square houses the YMCA at Verdae, Stella’s Brasserie, and other boutiques and small businesses. Residents can also join the local golf club, The Preserve at Verdae. Finally, 20-acre Legacy Park contains water features, walking paths, and a playground. Inspired by New York City’s Central Park, Legacy Park is a key feature of the Hollingsworth Park community. 

Hollingsworth Park’s central location and community amenities make it one of the premier neighborhoods in the Upstate. 

Richmond Hills

For our final neighborhood highlight, we are heading north through downtown Greenville. Richmond Hills is conveniently located halfway between Greenville and Travelers Rest, a small town north of Greenville nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and directly across from Furman University. 

Richmond Hills has medium to large single-family and mobile homes, many of which were built in the early 2000s. Richmond Hill schools include Armstrong Elementary, Berea Middle School, and Travelers Rest High School.

Richmond Hills is a short walk from Furman University, one of the most beautiful college campuses in the country, and nearly 13 miles of walking and biking trails.

If you want to live closer to the mountains but within driving distance of Greenville, jump on the opportunity to live in Richmond Hills! This area is growing quickly and will grow in value fast. 

The Upstate has many amazing communities to offer its residents. Today we only covered a few, but if you are interested in finding the perfect home and neighborhood for your family, our talented team at Hamilton & Co. can help! Give us a call at 864-527-7685 and we’d be happy to set up a personalized community search, connect you with local resources, and more. 

Dog park and Midtown Greenway upgrades

The dog park will be at 682 Grove St. with funding help from McNeal Development, which is building a 214-unit apartment complex next door. 

Near the main entrance to the greenway, the city has other big improvements planned including a covered stage and a new playground with a focus on accessibility for physically disabled people. 

“All of the pieces are built with different abilities in mind,” Councilwoman Juli Clay said. 

For example, there will be special swings fit for wheelchairs to easily roll into, special rubbery material on the playground designed for those with sensory issues and more shaded areas 

The Coop

The 89-acre J. Melvin Cooper Youth Sports Complex should begin construction soon, Mattison said.

The complex, which will be located at 2490 Old Cornelia Highway, will contain five ball diamonds, one multi-purpose field, a walking path, track and a playground.

The complex will be named after Melvin Cooper, Gainesville’s longtime parks director, who spent 47 years with the city and retired in 2019.  

“We’re hoping that they’ll be breaking ground on that site by late spring, early summer,” Mattison said. “That means that they will have almost a year of dirt moving.” 

The project will take about two years to complete once construction begins. 

Other projects

An outdoor fitness area is coming to the corner of Ridgewood Terrace and Wilshire Road. 

The fitness court will have box jumps, pull-up bars and other fitness equipment, Mattison said, and they plan to install a 40-foot mural on one side painted by a local artist. 

Work is expected to start in the spring, she said. The small park will connect with the Highlands to Islands Trails system. 

At Wessell Park, they plan to install the city’s first 18-hole disc golf course. 

“We’re calling it the ‘Woods at Wessell,’ because it primarily is going to go through that 10 acres that’s actually in the woods,” Mattison said. 

Myrtle Street Park was recently approved for grant funds to add a mini-soccer field with artificial turf. 

The mini-field is a 60-foot by 90-foot lighted court with artificial turf and smaller goals, with fencing all around. It will also likely come with some spectator seating, and turf fields like this are growing in popularity in the South. 

The Highlands to Islands trail will be fully connected soon thanks to a $785,000 donation from Pilgrim’s Pride. The Hall County and Gainesville trail system will eventually span 54 miles from Gainesville to Braselton. The trail system, being funded largely by Hall County’s SPLOST, has been in development for years. The donation from Pilgrim’s will help connect the 2.2-mile downtown section of the trail to a 3.5-mile section that runs through the south of the city along Atlanta Highway.

City Park will also get some love with new scorekeeper stands and sidewalk improvements. 

Collectively, the park improvements help inspire more economic growth as well. 

“These are all things that activate different parts of the city,” Clay said. “This definitely makes it more appealing… Instead of just being in downtown, now it’s expanded where people see viable development”

March 21, 2022 – 8:01 AM

There’s a park in Penticton where flying saucers begin to glow once the sun goes down on Wednesdays.

That’s when the Glow League lights up the Marina View Disc Golf Course, where players aim to glide their their neon discs into illuminated metal baskets.

“It’s a very different game at night,” said Elaine Dickers. “Your perception is totally different. It’s way more relaxed, and seeing all the glowing discs fly at night is pretty fun.”

Players make their glow-in-the-dark discs extra bright by charging them up with flashlights.

(DAN WALTON / iNFOnews.ca)

Dickers is an ultimate frisbee veteran which made disc golf even easier to learn.

But the rules are much more similar to golf – try and get the frisbee into the basket in as few throws as possible. Another similarity is that players don’t have to be athletic to be good at it.

Many of the players at the Glow League last Wednesday joined over the past two years, as disc golf was one of the few activities that could be played while COVID-related restrictions were in place.

The league has been experiencing significant growth since 2019, when there were just 46 members. That number grew to 92 in 2020, and last year there were 122 members.

The Marina View Disc Golf Course in Penticton.

(DAN WALTON / iNFOnews.ca)

Dylan Warrington is one of the members who joined the league towards the start of the pandemic. He played about 10 years ago in high school.

“I just wanted to get outside so I decided to come out here and give it a whirl again. It was nice to get out of the house too in early 2020.”

Warrington says it’s a fun, casual sport, and there is always room for more people.

“Everybody will be welcoming and having fun,” he said. “It’s great fun to be out here to have some fun with the boys.”

The Glow League is part of the SmartShopper Disc Golf club, which is organized by Sean Cochran.

“You can learn disc golf in a day but never master it in a lifetime,” he said.

The game is embraced by players of all skill levels, and in the age range of 3 to 85.

READ MORE: New Okanagan disc golf course lands in Vernon

Cochran said Marina View is one of the best courses for beginners because the holes aren’t too far apart and it only has a few trees and obstacles to worry about.

It’s a good time of year for the Glow League, as temperatures are warming up and the sky is still pretty dark by 7 p.m.

“It’s pretty cool when there’s nothing else to see but pitch black and your glowing disc flying through the air.”

Anybody interested in playing can drop in with a group or as a single. Games start on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and there is a $2 drop-in fee. 

“There are always groups that are willing to take new players,” he said. “That’s the nice thing about the disc golf community is everyone’s willing to help everyone else because we all started somewhere.”

Cochran recommends bringing a bottle of water, running shoes, and to dress for weather.

He said the gear, including starter sets, can be found at SmartShopper on Main Street, or through his website Just4fun.

Wayne Cartwright is all smiles as he gets ready to hurl his disc during Glow League golf in Penticton.

(DAN WALTON / iNFOnews.ca)

Although the end of pandemic restrictions seems to be near, Cochran said the sport continues to “explode.”

Work is underway to build courses in Oliver and Keremeos and Cochran has plans for more after that. Currently the only other course in the Penticton area is at 3 Blind Mice.

READ MORE: McArthur Island Park getting 18-hole disc golf course

Up north at the Kamloops Disc Golf Club, members have organized the Tournament Capital Open, which offers a prize pool of $5,000 and has nearly reached its maximum number of registrations of 360. It runs from May 27 to 29.

The club in Kamloops has also seen substantial growth over the past two years. Last year, there were more than 200 members compared to fewer than 100 in 2019.

And “2022 is already on its way to breaking another membership record,” according to their Facebook page.

When disc golfers like Christine Tevlin come within a few meters of the basket, it is then considered putting.

(DAN WALTON / iNFOnews.ca)

To contact a reporter for this story, email Dan Walton or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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News from © iNFOnews, 2022

Neither tornado nor pandemic could stop Lake Wauburg’s centennial celebration.

September will mark 100 years since the University of Florida gained ownership of the lake’s North Shore, an outdoor recreation center and community staple eight miles south of campus.

Plans to celebrate the anniversary, in the works since 2018, were nearly thwarted by a tornado in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic, and yet hundreds of people gathered on Saturday for Music at the Lake, kicking off months of centennial festivities.

Preparation wasn’t a breeze. The tornado destroyed about $300,000 worth of property and equipment, said Amber Larkin, associate director for outdoor recreation at UF RecSports.

While some structures are still being rebuilt, Larkin said the site has mostly recovered. Two years of COVID-19 restrictions, though, left Larkin and other members of the lake’s centennial committee uncertain if the celebration could come to fruition.

Larkin spearheaded the planning – three similar events are set for April 16, July 4 and Labor Day – and said she was elated to see the first be a success.

“I just love that people can come out here, and they can disconnect from all of their responsibilities, and then reconnect with themselves,” she said of the lake’s enduring value.

Lake Wauburg was named – though for some reason misspelled – in honor of Frederick Warburg, who immigrated to America in 1821 to help recruit settlers for Jewish agricultural properties in Alachua County, said Kaitlyn Hof-Mahoney, executive director of the Matheson History Museum.

“This is something that is a huge part of Gainesville and Alachua County life,” Hof-Mahoney said of the lake.

Music at the Lake’s turnout suggested as much. For three hours, attendees sailed, hammocked, barbecued, played sports and did yoga to the hum of a live jazz band.

John Bishop, 57, an architect and outdoorsman from Apollo Beach, said he enjoyed the event and loved the lake.

“The weather’s good, the music’s good and everyone’s having a good time,” said Bishop, who attended with his wife and daughter.

Lake Wauburg is where Linda Dillon, 22, learned to rock climb and indulge in kayaking and paddle boarding. She said the lake’s distance from UF’s campus and free student access make it a both a great stress outlet as well as way to enjoy the outdoors.

Dillon attended Music at the Lake with the UF Culinary Arts Student Union (CASU). The club’s vice president, she said around 50 of its members and 30 guests were to attend a planned picnic. Rather than “cook up a hog,” CASU brought 11 pounds of Korean barbecue ribs, 20 pounds of barbecue chicken kabobs, sausages and sides for the centennial.

“It’s definitely a positive experience no matter what,” she said of the lake.

Chloe Piloto, 20, a staff outdoor recreation associate and a climbing wall operator, said she feels fulfilled by helping other people engage in the activities she adores. Piloto said she spent Music at the Lake doing just that, welcoming visitors at the North Shore’s front gate.

“It’s just a fun atmosphere, both for the patron and for us,” she said.

Piloto began working at Lake Wauburg six months ago. She assists with aquatic activities like kayaking, canoeing and land sports like volleyball at the North Shore, as well as mountain biking, disc golf and rock-climbing procedures at the South Shore.

But her favorite part of the job is interacting with students. She remembers visiting the lake as a freshman and wants to create the best experiences for others.

“Not every university has a place like the lake,” she said.

Ron Perry, 66, an assistant law librarian at UF, was on his way home from a 5K in Micanopy and decided to stop by the lake. Perry hadn’t been in several years and wasn’t aware of the celebration before arriving. He said the jazz band was a pleasant surprise.

“It’s just a nice day away from the city,” Perry said.

Larkin said she’s proud of her staff for being able to put on an event like Music at the Lake despite the recent obstacles. She said they hope it brings more attention to Lake Wauburg.

“We want people to know about it and come out here and enjoy it,” Larkin said.

There is little in town to remind visitors that Aurora used to be the cheese capital of the country. Its days as a small farming community ended in the 1960s when its location near both Akron and Cleveland fueled its growth into a 25-square-mile suburban city. Still, it retains a rural feel in many areas, with lots of green space, a Western Reserve architectural style, family-friendly neighborhoods and one of the best public school districts in Ohio.

Location

Aurora is in the northwest corner of Portage County, with Geauga County on its northern border, and Summit County to the west. The city is bisected by state Routes 82 (east-west) and 43 (north-south).

Highlights 

The origin of the city’s name is a bit of a mystery. Some believe Aurora was the name of the daughter of Maj. Amos Spafford, one of the first settlers of Cleveland. Others believe the village was named for Aurora, the Roman goddess of dawn.