There may be no more appropriately named project under consideration in the city of Greenville than the “Dream Park,” a 2.4-acre space on Chestnut Street that is slated for renovation in the coming months. City Council approved the master plan for the development of the park, which officially placed it on a firm footing for eventual implementation.

The construction of a new recreation facility in that space should address two problems: the lack of outdoor public options for nearby residents and the occupation of that space by an undesirable, criminal element threatening neighborhood safety. With a community commitment to making it work, the Dream Park represents the type of projects needed in Greenville.

It was the now-defunct Weed and Seed anti-crime initiative that first proposed development of the Dream Park when the program was active in the 1990s, part of a wider call for more recreations options in west Greenville. The persistently troubled neighborhoods there have long argued that the absence of funding for recreation and parks left their children and residents without the healthy options available in other parts of the city.

For the complete article, please pick up a copy of The Daily Reflector or purchase today’s electronic edition at http://www.reflector.com/circ-store. Current home delivery and electronic edition subscribers may log in to access this article at no charge. To become a subscriber, please click here or contact Customer Service at (252) 329-9505.