Less than 5 minutes from downtown Inman, Leroy Mathis Park is a fully fenced park with two kid-friendly playgrounds, a walking trail, and more for families to enjoy. Kidding Around’s own Sarah Burnett shares why this park makes the perfect addition to your day in Inman, South Carolina.
Quick Look at Leroy Mathis Park
💲 Cost: Free admission and parking
🕘 Hours: 7 am-9 pm in summer, 7 am-7 pm in winter
📍 Location: 50 Bishop Street, Inman, SC 29349
🛝 Playground: Fully fenced, playsets for different ages
👟 Trails: 0.15-mile paved walking trail
🏟️ Athletics: Covered fitness equipment
🚻 Amenities: Picnic shelters, grills, and restrooms
Discovering Leroy Mathis Park
Our family first discovered Leroy Mathis Park after a morning storytime at the Inman Library. This was one of the many weekly storytimes offered by Spartanburg County Public Libraries, and the staff there entertained our kids with great songs, stories, and even a coloring activity afterward. It was a fun start to our morning out, but we weren’t ready to go home!
After so much time indoors, I knew my oldest in particular would be itching for some sunshine. I looked up nearby parks on my phone, and the rest is history! Leroy Mathis Park is only two minutes from the Inman Library, and about the same distance from the heart of downtown Inman. Whether you live in Inman or are just visiting this wonderful city in Spartanburg County, Leroy Mathis Park will make an easy and worthwhile addition to your day!
Fully Fenced Park with Family-Friendly Features
If you are anything like me, you are ecstatic anytime you discover a new playground that is enclosed with a good fence. Kids are quick! And fences make any playground experience so much easier for parents and safer for the children to enjoy. Leroy Mathis Park is fully fenced with a gated entrance at each end, with parking areas on both sides.
Both gates can be latched shut and seen simultaneously from most spots in the park, including the two covered picnic pavilions. Another standout feature of this park is the excellent visibility from end to end, making it easy for parents to supervise their children no matter where they decide to play.
The park offers two fun playsets, one for preschoolers and one for ages roughly 6 to 12 years old. These playsets are a good distance apart, which can make a big difference in keeping kids in their age-appropriate areas. There are standard, baby, and accessible swings, as well as a concrete cornhole setup you can use if you bring your own beanbags!
Another thing that makes this park a family favorite? The easy, 0.15-mile paved walking loop inside the fence. When you add this to the clear visibility and wraparound fencing, it makes Leroy Mathis Park one of our top picks for little ones learning to ride tricycles, bicycles, and more. Plus, it gives parents and caregivers a convenient option to stretch their legs or get some steps in without ever losing sight of their kids.
For those wanting to exercise, don’t miss the outdoor fitness equipment, either. The equipment at Leroy Mathis Park is fully covered overhead, which means it does not get nearly as hot on sunny summer days or wet when it has rained. Just remember to keep children off the exercise equipment unless they are able to use it properly under your supervision.
Add in the restrooms, and this park really does check every box for families!
Make the Most of Your Park Day
If you are planning to visit Leroy Mathis Park, I highly recommend bringing a few things to spend as much time as you can there! Water bottles and snacks are must-haves, because this will not be a quick visit with all there is to do. You can also make use of the grills and picnic shelters as long as they are not already reserved or in use.
In addition to all the play structures onsite, this park has tons of potential for other kinds of outdoor play. Depending on where you live, you may not be able to do a lot of these things in your own backyard or neighborhood. Consider beanbags for cornhole, anything with wheels to ride around the park, sidewalk chalk, squirt guns and bubbles in summertime, or empty containers to collect leaves and other treasures in cooler months.
Some visitors may also be interested in the military memorial onsite for Inman residents who served in the United States Armed Forces. You may want to be prepared to answer any questions your children might have about it, or even use the opportunity to help them appreciate the sacrifices necessary to live in a safe, free, and beautiful community like ours.
You can also plan to spend a whole day in Inman just by adding a little more exploration of the surrounding areas! The nearby library has a great Children’s Section for indoor fun, plus special events like storytime. Inman offers some great local shopping, too, at places like Gracie’s Boutique, The Maker’s Market, and Vintage Restore and More. If you’re looking for a meal, we highly recommend Kempson Rexall Drugs, an old-fashioned soda fountain and pharmacy which provide a casual, family-friendly dining experience.
General Park Info
Address: 50 Bishop Street, Inman, SC 29349
Hours: 7 am-9 pm in summer, 7 am-7 pm in winter
Contact: Spartanburg County Parks
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