(Photo provided.)

By Donna Isbell Walker

BMW Manufacturing announced on Wednesday April 27, 2022, that it will donate $1.25 million to Unity Park for the preservation of wetlands in the park located near downtown Greenville.

The donation covers eight acres of wetlands in the park, and will provide for construction of a series of low-impact boardwalks and overlooks in the northern section of the 60-acre park.

“Sustainability is an integral part of BMW’s corporate strategy, and we actively take responsibility to participate in our local community on sustainability initiatives,” Dr. Robert Engelhorn, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing, said of the donation. “That is why we are excited about this donation to preserve and maintain these wetlands for future generations.”

The creation of Unity Park, which sits west of downtown, is a public-private partnership that includes playgrounds, walking trails, a welcome center, and the restoration of Mayberry Park. 

Statues and plazas in the park pay tribute to Greenville residents who played important roles in the development of the nearby Southernside community, including activist Mary Duckett and the late community leader Lila Mae Brock.

"Just as BMW has had a transformative impact on the Upstate since its arrival 20 years ago, Unity Park will be a transformative project for the Greenville community," said Greenville Mayor Knox White. "The city is proud to partner with BMW, a worldwide leader in sustainability, on the restoration of the wetlands at Unity Park."

The park slated to open May 19.