South Carolina is home to one of nation’s best parks, report finds. Why is it special?

A South Carolina park boasts riverfront views — and was named one of the best outdoor spaces in the nation.

Falls Park on the Reedy in Greenville ranks No. 2 on a list of city parks offering opportunities to relax and have fun, according to results published Feb. 17.

The park made it onto the list after winning a readers’ choice award from USA Today’s 10Best, which conducts best-of contests for destinations across the country.

To create the U.S. park rankings, 10Best said it received nominations from a panel of experts and had its editors narrow down the choices. Then, readers could spend four weeks choosing their favorite city parks from the list, submitting a maximum of one vote per day.

“City parks provide space to connect with nature and each other,” 10Best wrote. “And the best city parks offer a variety of activities for residents and visitors that range from playgrounds and community gardens to skate parks and live performances.”

When the results came in, Falls Park was the only South Carolina destination to rank in the top 10. It was edged out by the expansive Forest Park in St. Louis, which took the highest spot on the list.

Still, 10Best gave Falls Park praise for serving as a case study for riverfront development.

“The small but scenic Reedy River passes through the heart of downtown, with its surprising waterfalls best viewed from an award-winning pedestrian suspension bridge that spans the cascades within Falls Park,” the report said.

The 20-acre park — which is home to nature trails, gardens and public works of art — has become a popular destination for people to gather in the city of 72,000 people, according to the city of Greenville and tourism officials.

Falls Park isn’t a stranger to earning recognition. Earlier this month, the outdoor attraction received a nod in a separate report that named Greenville County the state’s best place to live.

On the more recent list, the other city parks rounding out the top five were:

• Falls Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at No. 3

• Bruce Park in Greenwich, Connecticut at No. 4

• Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, Texas at No. 5

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