Downtown’s parks provide a tangible example of the quality of life in Winston-Salem. They are unexpected finds in an urban area and uniquely reflect the city’s artistic culture. They leave visitors meandering downtown with a sense of newfound discovery. These urban parks are a reprieve for locals, especially those living, working, or studying downtown. Here are four parks worth finding and exploring in downtown Winston-Salem:
Artivity on the Green
An art-themed park in downtown Winston-Salem on Liberty Street, between 6th and 7th Streets. It was conceived as an Art For Art’s Sake (AFAS) project, designed by the STITCH Design Shop, built by the Frank L. Blum Construction Company, and funded by the Thomas J. Regan Jr. Foundation. The park first opened in 2015.
The park was initially conceived as a central gathering place to connect the two worlds of Art and Innovation since it lies between the Art District and the Innovation Quarter. A red 8″ ground line connects the entire block visually. The line directs pedestrians from the city sidewalks to the park’s center. Upon entry, the single red line splits into multiple lines. The park includes six pathways that weave through the rolling landscape, representing the nearby foothill mountain ranges. 13 red steel masts of varying heights stand in the park’s center. These red masts have become an iconic structure that STITCH, the park’s designer, calls the “Tower Cloud.” The Tower Cloud emits water vapor every half hour and is a nod to the profile of the historic RJR Building. A white steel structure, the “Ribbon Shelter,” bends to create seating areas and artist easels. A long mural wall was constructed to act as the park’s billboard and to allow the general public to display their talents.
Artivity is an excellent spot for wedding photos, prom pictures, hammocks, and selfies in front of the mural wall. Occasionally, people will hold art classes, acro-yoga, and live dance performances here.
Winston Square Park
Located at 310 Marshall Street, adjacent to the Sawtooth School, Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, and the YMCA condos.
The most peaceful spot downtown, Winston Square Park, is a passageway between Marshall and Spruce Street. The park is ideal for those working downtown to sit quietly by the fountain, eat lunch, or read.
Winston Square Park was constructed in the early 1980s. It resulted from a Winston-Salem Arts Council campaign, which explains why the park has a winding catwalk, a stage, and amphitheater seating. The park also includes a beautiful massive Japanese waterfall garden. Winston Square Park is now part of the Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks Department. The park has four plaques that honor Winston-Salem’s first Distinguished Women in the Arts:
- Actress and educator Flonnie T. Anderson
- Actress Rosemary Harris
- Poet Nell Davis Britton
- The late sculptor Earline King
Bailey Park
Located on the corner of Fourth Street and Patterson Avenue in downtown Winston-Salem, Bailey Park opened to the public in 2015. The 1.6-acre park is a space for creative work and play and is part of the essence of the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter.
Bailey Park is an excellent spot for grabbing lunch at a food truck (Food Truck Friday has become a regular occurrence here), playing frisbee, walking dogs, having a picnic in the sun, and enjoying free community events like yoga and outdoor movies.
Merschel Park
Merschel Park, at Fourth and Trade Street’s corner, is Winston-Salem’s newest downtown park. The park is named after the late Wanda Merschel, who represented the Northwest Ward for 16 years on the Winston-Salem City Council. Merschel died in 2020 and was a supporter of downtown revitalization.
“Balancing Act,” a large kinetic sculpture by Lyman Whitaker, is on display at Merschel Park and is dedicated to women who find imaginative ways to balance their lives. Whitaker says the 16 spheres represent Merschel’s years of service on the city council. A smaller “Ring Around the Rosie” sculpture is inspired by Kaleideum Downtown, the children’s museum going up just across the street from the park. The large central sphere represents a mother, and the smaller pieces surrounding it represent six children.
In Merschel Park, you’ll find signs, shade structures, and railings. Benches are a notable exclusion of the park. 2023 will be the city’s first annual holiday tree-lighting celebration at the new park.
