JB and I cruised the Swamp Rabbit Trail all the way to the new Conestee playscape last week. I’m so glad we took the cargo bike. Jb was thrilled, perched on the back like a queen surveying her kingdom.

It took us about an hour to get there from downtown, which felt like a proper adventure. We chugged along, chatting about everything we saw. The new ReWa section of the trail was great – smooth sailing, and JB actually pointed out one of those bronze salamanders before I did! Smart kid. It definitely beats those old, sketchy boardwalks, that’s for sure.

When we finally rolled up to the playscape… wow. It’s even cooler than I imagined. Seeing all those huge pieces of wood from Hurricane Helene transformed into climbing structures and little nooks was genuinely amazing. JB’s eyes just lit up.

She made a beeline for what looked like a giant beaver lodge and was scrambling over logs and under arches like a little woodland creature. There was this awesome “storyteller’s throne” made from a massive stump, and she insisted on climbing up and narrating a wild tale about a brave squirrel.

She must have spent a solid hour just in the “Explorer’s Overlook,” pretending to spot pirate ships in the distance (or maybe just geese on the lake, but her version was better!). It was so good to see her so engrossed, using her imagination, getting a little muddy. It’s exactly what a playground should be. And honestly, knowing the story behind it, that all that beautiful wood was salvaged from the storm, just made it feel extra special.

What a fantastic addition to Greenville for families with kids. We’ll be back, Conestee.