Finlay Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Finlay Park is a popular public park located in the heart of Columbia, South Carolina.


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Summary

It spans over 18 acres and offers visitors a variety of recreational activities for all ages.

One of the main reasons to visit Finlay Park is its beautiful scenery. The park features a large lake, waterfall, and numerous walking trails. Visitors can also take advantage of the park's picnic areas, playgrounds, and sports facilities, including basketball and tennis courts.

A must-see point of interest in the park is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which honors the state's fallen soldiers. The park also hosts a variety of events throughout the year, such as the popular Greek Festival and various music and art festivals.

Interesting facts about Finlay Park include that it was named after Kirkman Finlay, a former mayor of Columbia, and that it was designed by landscape architect Lawrence Halprin, who also designed the FDR Memorial in Washington D.C.

The best time of year to visit Finlay Park is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the park is filled with blooming flowers and colorful foliage. However, the park is open year-round and offers activities and events throughout all seasons.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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