'Something you have worked for'

Block party celebrates Woodside Park neighborhood

Simpsonville, S.C. (March 28, 2023) —  A festive mood permeated Sidney Wilson Court on Friday as community members gathered for the Woodside Park Block Party in the historic Woodside Mill community to celebrate the housing of 10 families in homes built by Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County.

The City of Simpsonville, Habitat for Humanity and Food Lion hosted the block party in the neighborhood off Beattie Street in the west side of downtown. Representatives from the Simpsonville Parks & Recreation, Fire and Police departments attended the event to show their support for residents. Included among the Simpsonville officials were Parks & Recreation Director Robbie Davis, Police Chief Mike Hanshaw and Mayor Paul Shewmaker. Even Tracks, the Heritage Park Railway mascot, stopped by for the kids.

"This is something that you have worked for and earned," Mayor Shewmaker said to the families. "It was not given, and we are so proud to have you be a part of Simpsonville. ... You make it really easy to say that, 'You have arrived in Simpsonville and are simply home.'"

Simpsonville City Council committed the City to the Woodside Park project in 2017 when it entered into a development agreement with and donated five acres of land on which the housing was built to Habitat for Humanity.

To learn more about the project, visit the links at the bottom of the page under More stories about the Woodside Park development.

The Simpsonville Heritage Park Railway mascot Tracks stopped by the Woodside Park Block Party to see the kids and pass out free train passes | City of Simpsonville

Simpsonville Police Chief Mike Hanshaw and Lt. Timmie Williams cook food for the attendants of the Woodside Park Block Party | City of Simpsonville

The Woodside Park Block Party featured several fun activities for kids (and their grownups), including face painting | City of Simpsonville

Representatives from Food Lion came out to the Woodside Park Block Party to provide food for the event | City of Simpsonville

Simpsonville Mayor Paul Shewmaker speaks at the Woodside Park Block Party. Mayor Shewmaker commended the families of the 10 houses for their hard work in qualifying for and buying their new houses and thanked Councilmember Jenn Hulehan of Ward III for her hard work on the Woodside Park Habitat for Humanity project. Councilmember Hulehan could not be in attendance | City of Simpsonville