Rock Hill council rezones about 92.5 acres to allow development of large city park

Rock Hill City Council on Monday approved rezoning roughly 92.51 acres of land along Freedom Road, Hagen Street and Florence Street from several single‑family districts and Master Plan Commercial to Office and Institutional to allow the city to assemble a large park.

The rezoning covers five parcels the staff described as totaling about 92.51 acres; the city plans to combine those parcels with three additional parcels (one city‑owned and two to be acquired or leased) to form a roughly 105‑acre park. Shauna, a city staff member, presented the rezoning sketch plan and described proposed park elements: football and baseball fields, tennis, pickleball and basketball courts, walking trails, playgrounds, batting cages, concession areas, a community building, parking and other future uses.

Shauna told council the subject parcels include a 43‑acre parcel at 650 Freedom Road currently used as a public works laydown yard; two unaddressed wooded parcels of about 7 and 8 acres; a 21‑acre parcel developed with Arcade…