Walter Elisha Amphitheater

DP3 Architects designed a new amphitheater and restroom buildings for the Walter Elisha Park in Fort Mill, SC in partnership with Keck+Wood. The 12-acre park offers a walking trail, playground, and a large green space that is home to the South Carolina Strawberry Festival, an annual event drawing tens of thousands of visitors to the area.

Once the site of a Springs Industries textile facility, the property was eventually turned into a park space after a fire in 1988 that damaged the building. According to Ann Evans, Springs family archivist, the park is named after Walter Y. Elisha who served as the CEO of Springs Industries from 1981 to 1997 and as chairman from 1983 to 1998. Elisha donated trees and a play set for the park which features rolling hills dotted with a series of interpretive sculptures by artist Bruno Lucchesi. With the new 2,400-square-foot amphitheater and covered stage, the community is ready to enjoy concerts, plays, and outdoor movies for generations to come.