Cleveland Park is nearly a century old — and while it's changed some over time, its character has largely been one of a traditional expansive green space.

But in the time since it opened in 1926, growth in Greenville has both filled the 126-acre park to the brim and shifted the focal point to downtown and Falls Park.

Now, the city's old signature park is poised for a change — and the public is invited to have a say in the future.

The Cleveland Park master plan, in the works for more than a year, will be the subject of an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the KROC Center.

The purpose is to gather public input on ideas for activities in the park.

The consultant team — MKSK, the same group helping shape the future of Unity Park on the west side of downtown — will be available to discuss the plan and take comments.

More:Unity Park: Greenville unveils new $40 million downtown park with tower, pedestrian bridge

The consultant will then incorporate the input into a plan presented next month to a Cleveland Park steering committee involving surrounding stakeholders, with a final plan expected before the end of the year or sooner, said Mari Steinbach, the city's parks and recreation director.

The plan is just the beginning of a broader vision for parks in the city, which Steinbach said is a reversal from the typical approach of starting with a broader, citywide plan.

The new amenities for Cleveland Park will reflect and compliment what will be featured at Unity Park, she said.

“Because Cleveland Park is so historic and important, it makes sense for us to start there," Steinbach said. "It’s a great launch to a greater dialogue. It’s a great way to begin thinking about what our parks need to look like for the next 10, 20, 100 years."

The park has faced increased pressure as more and more people visit, often with little place to park on warm, sunny days.

The plan will try to address how to accommodate parking as well as traffic build-up on the well-travel cut-through streets that bisect the park.

The park was built on flood-prone land along the Reedy River and Richland Creek and has evolved since the property was donated to the city, developed and first opened with a Girl Scouts headquarters.

Cleveland Park was one of many built with the millions of dollars the government invested during the Great Depression to provide employment and shape the future of America's public spaces.

The investment continued with the Greenville Zoo and most recently on a large scale with development of the Swamp Rabbit Trail.

The city is currently working with Greenville County on an extension of the Swamp Rabbit Trail that will include a flyover bridge over Laurens Road leading into the park, which will provide another connection to Verdae.

Work on the banks of Richland Creek and the Reedy River are improving water quality and covering unsightly exposed sewer pipes.

"The plan comes at a time when many different projects are being designed and underway," City Councilwoman Amy Ryberg Doyle said. "What makes a park great is the people — the families who come enjoy it. We need to be forward-thinking in designing what the next generation of what Greenville park users want."

Follow Eric on Twitter @cericconnor