Clemson’s Abernathy Park is a wonderful facility, with many positive attributes.

The park, located behind Wendy’s on the highway side, offers residents and visitors alike a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of Highway 123 and take a walk through the woods.

The tables, benches and swings on its boardwalk provide a lovely view of the lake — and, now that the lake is back in full force following the drought, a chance to see birds and other wildlife.

The boardwalk and boat docks in the park provide many opportunities to snag a fish, too.

Its picnic shelter provides a place for families and groups to hold reunions and get-togethers and create wonderful memories.

Abernathy Park is one of our favorite places in the area to take a walk. We love how the sidewalk winds by the lake and through the woods.

We also love the poems set into the boardwalk’s railings at intervals, poems that highlight the work of well-known poets such as James Dickey and also homegrown talent from nearby Clemson University.

We’re not the only ones who love the park. We often see people fishing off the docks and we pass many people, from senior citizens to Clemson University students, on our walks through its grounds.

Yes, the park has many things going for it.

But the one thing it doesn’t have is kids.

Oh, Abernathy Park has a playground — a very nice one.

But we hardly ever see kids using it.

Why? Lack of nearby parking.

While there is parking at the entrance behind Highway 123, there aren’t many available spaces.

When you’re a parent trying to juggle a stroller, a diaper bag, snacks, drinks and toys — and let’s not forget your children — nearby parking isn’t a gift, it’s a necessity.

When the Astro III was in business, parents were able to use its parking lot for easy access to the park.

But since the theater has been shuttered, the family that owns the property hasn’t allowed anyone to park in the theater’s lot.

We can understand their concerns. An empty building is often a target for vandals. Any damage to the property would hurt efforts, championed by Clemson Mayor Larry Abernathy and others, to bring the theater back to life.

But we feel something can be worked out that would allow the parking lot to be accessed while still keeping the family’s property safe, allowing the park’s visitors to access the park and the beautiful fountain at nearby Catherine J. Smith Plaza.

We hope the city can work something out with the owners to free up some parking for the park.

A playground without kids playing on it is a sad sight.

And a park without people is pointless.