Inside: A Local mom explores the Chesnee Community Center with park and playground.
If you’re just passing through, it could be easy to miss this little gem in the town of Chesnee, SC. Just a few blocks off Main Street, the Chesnee Community Center is a treasured resource for locals and a worthwhile trip even from farther off in Spartanburg County. Big things are happening around this small building, and Kidding Around’s Sarah Burnett breaks it all down for you to start getting involved!
I first stumbled across the Chesnee Community Center when I was up that way just running some errands with my 3 kids. I could tell they needed to get some energy out, and I needed a break from being in the car with them, so I looked for the nearest park in my map app and found this one. The little playground we found there was perfect, and now that it’s a regular place to play for us, I’ve learned so much more about this special hub in the Chesnee community!
Enclosed Playground for All Ages
The playground at Chesnee Community Park is what first drew us there, and even though it might look small, it has A LOT to offer a busy mom like me! It is open every day from dawn to dusk, has convenient parking right next to the play area, and has nearby access to restrooms—inside the Community Center during its open hours or down the hill at the sports complex at any other time of day.
The playground is designed for ages 5 to 12 years, but younger children can enjoy it with the right supervision. It features a simple swing set with baby and big kid swings, two open slides, monkey bars, and multiple climbing ladders. The entire playground is surrounded by a chain-link fence with only one entry/exit point, and there is 100% visibility from one end to the other, making it easy to watch the kids!
With 4 covered picnic tables on a concrete patio inside the fence, this has rapidly become one of my absolute favorite places to set up with my kids on busy days. I can latch the gate, get comfortable at one of the tables, and let my baby play right there on the patio while my older 2 kids can run and play without my losing sight of them.
Another factor that makes this playground a family favorite is that it’s in a safe area without being too busy. Some of the safest parks are often the most popular—which can have its benefits, too—but Chesnee Community Park is perfect for those days when I don’t want to worry about a bunch of kids other than my own running all around!
And we are never totally isolated, either. Spartanburg County Parks Department keeps an employee on duty in the Community Center during its open hours, and even in the off hours, we see community members coming and going regularly to the 24/7 fitness center!
Just be aware that the playground and all the picnic tables are first come, first served, and this park picks up in popularity on game days and warm-weather holidays!
Disc Golf Course and Sports Complex
The disc golf course at Chesnee Community Park is located directly opposite the Community Center entrance, across Union Street. The first red basket is visible from the gravel parking lot, and the remaining baskets wind in a loop through the woods and back.
This course is first come, first served, and bring your own disc!
From the disc golf parking lot, you get a great view of the sports complex, located just down the hill from the Community Center, with a separate and much larger paved parking area. The sports complex offers 4 baseball fields and a football arena, all of which are open to the public when not reserved for a game or practice by a community team. However, as a courtesy, visitors are asked not to disturb the in-field mix on the baseball fields when it has been freshly raked in the morning for activities later in the day.
Public restrooms are also available at the sports complex during daylight hours every day of the week, and there is a concession area that may be open during scheduled games.
Community Center Facilities
The Chesnee Community Center is typically open 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, unless otherwise reserved. It is staffed by the Spartanburg County Parks Department, and there are clean, multi-stall restrooms open to the public anytime the building is open.
One of the main draws of the Community Center is its event hall, which can accommodate up to 200 guests and has a curtain to divide the space, if needed. There is a kitchen facility with a refrigerator, ice machine, warming oven, microwave, and stove, with some restrictions depending upon the use.
There is also a classroom ideal for homeschool and craft groups, a computer lab used primarily for adult education courses, a fitness center, and a small private courtyard with benches and a water feature.
Programs and Activities
The best way to find out about events and programs at the Chesnee Community Center is to visit their lobby during open hours. They print new calendars every month with full details on all the expected events, and they regularly post flyers for any special programs. When possible, they also post this information online.
There are a few recurring programs, including Spartanburg District 7’s adult education program, a food pantry for qualifying families provided by Upstate Family Resource Center, and fitness center memberships available starting at $10/month. The Community Center has also hosted baking classes, book clubs, homeschool groups, group fitness classes, athletic tournaments, and more!
Call the Chesnee Community Center at 864.804.5817 during their open hours for details on current offerings, or to get details for planning your own event there today!
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