Wade’s Restaurant makes its mark on Mary Black Rail Trail

Thanks to a gift of just over $7,300, Partners for Active Living purchased five Wade’s Restaurant branded picnic tables for the new park along the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail called The Rail Yard.

The tables are located under a newly added picnic shelter that will be maintained by the City of Spartanburg.

“Partners for Active Living is honored to partner with Wade’s Restaurants to add five picnic tables to The Rail Yard. Other than one table at the Dog Park, these are the only tables available for public use along the two mile trail corridor. It will be enjoyed by park and trail users, alike,” Partners for Active Living executive director Laura Ringo said.

The tables can be used for a variety of activities like family reunions, faith-group gatherings, birthday parties, and friends gathering for a Sunday lunch.

“When plans for the park were unveiled several years ago, we knew we wanted to support it because it is located on the property that is directly behind the original Wade’s Restaurant location on South Pine Street,” Wade’s owner Hamp Lindsey said, “From the vantage point of our corporate office, which is in our original location, we have witnessed first-hand the popularity of the Rail Trail and we knew that a park in this area would be just as popular and meaningful to the community.

“Being able to sponsor the picnic tables at the park was a natural fit for us and we feel honored to have been given the opportunity to give back to the community in the area of Spartanburg that gave us our start in 1947.”

A ribbon cutting for The Rail Yard will be held this summer. At that time, the picnic shelter and tables may be reserved with the City of Spartanburg Parks and Recreation.