Located in downtown Spartanburg, the seven-acre Barnet Park is home to the Zimmerli Amphitheater and plays host to dozens of outdoor performance events each year. The picnic pavilion and several miles of paved walking trails make the area a restful retreat.
The land sat vacant for years until a local businessman, William “Bill” Barnet, purchased the property and donated it to the city. Barnet later served as Spartanburg’s mayor. Now transformed into one of Spartanburg’s preeminent cultural destinations, the park features an interactive water fountain for children to enjoy.
The Zimmerli Amphitheater – built with funds donated by the Zimmerli Family – can accommodate 1,100 people, and the surrounding lawn can accommodate 4,900 more. Barnet Park is located next to the Chapman Cultural Center and the George Dean Johnson Jr. College of Business and Economics.
Featured within the park are two beautiful sculptures, the first being Exuberance, seen below. This statue, which is over six feet tall and made of bronze, was created by New York artist, Richard McDermott Miller. The statue features a woman with outstretched arms and took two-and-one-half years to complete. It was placed at the park’s entrance in November of 1999, prior to the park’s official dedication.
The second statue, Circle of Friendship, was unveiled in December of 2001. Also of bronze, the statue depicts children of various ethnicities clasping hands and playing. It is meant to showcase “humanity, interaction, and cooperation” and was funded by a group of anonymous donors. Created by Gary Price of Utah, the statue honors Spartanburg’s former city manager, Roy Lane, who passed away shortly before its dedication. Lane had worked closely with Barnet to design the park.
Aerial Pictures of Barnet Park
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