Downtown Greenway 2024 Year In Review

2024

YEAR IN REVIEW

As we look back on 2024, this has been an exciting year of celebrating many new things - new construction, new programs, new users, and a new website - just to name a few! Of course, none of this would have been possible without your ongoing involvement, enthusiasm, and support of the Downtown Greenway, and we thank you for that. While we know that 2025 will be a year to celebrate even more, we want to take a moment to reflect on all that was accomplished this past year and share a few highlights with you. CELEBRATING PROGRESS

CHELSEA PHIPPS

DABNEY SANDERS

Greenway & Gardens Program Coordinator Greensboro Parks & Recreation

Downtown Greenway Project Manager Action Greensboro

With the increasing usage of the Downtown Greenway, also comes a growing need for additional maintenance and programming support. In 2024, three new positions were added to the staff roster, specifically for the Downtown Greenway: one part-time program assistant and two part-time crew members. This now brings the Downtown Greenway team to eight people, a testament to the City’s commitment to this wonderful Greensboro asset. TEAM GROWTH GROUNDBREAKING

The groundbreaking for the final section of the Western Branch was held on the morning of January 27 at Cairn’s Course. It was wonderful to see 200+ people come out on a chilly morning for one last chance to access the former railroad corridor before construction started just a few days later. The first 100 attendees received a commemorative ceramic mug, and everyone was able to enjoy hot chocolate, s’mores around the fire, and conversations with neighbors about the exciting transformation to come!

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CONSTRUCTION Known as the “Western Branch,” the former railroad corridor on the west side of the Downtown Greenway between Smith Street and Spring Garden Street went under construction in late January 2024. Work crews have made tremendous progress all year long, clearing the corridor, completing necessary underground utility work, upgrading stormwater and sewer lines, building retaining walls, and replacing three bridge crossings. Pending any unexpected setbacks, this final mile should be complete in late 2025. Additional construction took place in our northeast corner, including a full replacement of the bridge deck over Church Street, which will then allow the completion of a short section of greenway that was previously unfinished.

STREAM RESTORATION

With a grant from the North Carolina Land & Water Fund, additional stream restoration work was possible on the College Branch stream, which flows beside the Western Branch section of the Downtown Greenway. Stabilization of banks, introduction of pools and riffles, and the addition of native plant vegetation were all part of the process to improve water quality along this urban stream.

TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES The solar lighting within Morehead Park was replaced with upgraded fixtures and new solar technology. New trail counters were installed at 3 locations along the Downtown Greenway, including a digital display board located near LoFi Park. Enhanced data features can now distinguish pedestrians vs. cyclists, and capture direction and time of day.

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This past year reached record levels of participation across a broad range of programs and events! The addition of a part-time Program Assistant position enabled us to expand offerings and introduce new and creative programming opportunities. PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Individual Program Offerings 186

Program Participants 3,058

The Downtown Greenway embarked on an exciting new collaboration with Circus EVO, a local circus arts organization. A two-part series, called the Spotlight Circus Initiative , was held in March 2024. This unique program provided residents with free access to world-class circus arts performances, live music, and hands-on workshops, and was later recognized by the North Carolina Recreation & Park Association with the 2024 Arts & Humanities Award!

The 15th Annual Downtown Greenway Run & Block Party was held on September 28 on what was a beautiful afternoon on the Downtown Greenway! A record 407 people registered to participate in the 1-mile or 5K walk/run events, and more than 750 people attended the block party festivities before and after! The crowd enjoyed music, games, food trucks, interactive stations, face painting, photo booth, vendors and community partners, and more!

What was originally seen as a “strange new idea” turned out to be the biggest hit of the year - Speed Friending! The concept is simple: bring strangers together for short impromptu conversations to help them meet people and possibly start a new friendship. Over the course of 3 dates in late 2024, close to 150 people came out for this popular new program. With such high interest, and a growing need for more in-person social connections, this is now a recurring Downtown Greenway offering.

A number of other new programs were added in 2024, including Candlemaking, Nature Journaling, All About Lavender, SPCA on the Greenway, Coloring Therapy, Fruit Trees 101, and Drain Marking volunteer projects - just to name a few! With great success and continued interest, you can expect to see many of these return in 2025, along with even more new additions.

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VOLUNTEERS

Thanks to the dedication of our valued volunteers, 2024 was another productive year on the Downtown Greenway! More than 200 volunteers contributed almost 600 hours of their time to help our efforts in environmental sustainability and provide support at our large events.

Volunteer Hours 572

Volunteers were actively involved during a number of recurring Pollinator Garden and Public Orchard workdays, as well as Clean-A-Creek, Storm Drain Marking, and Tackle-the-Trash initiatives.

As a special thank you to recognize and celebrate our volunteers (from 2023), our annual Volunteer Appreciation event was held in February at the newly-opened Melrose Coffee & Cocktail Lounge - just one block away from the Downtown Greenway.

PUBLIC ART With support from the City of Greensboro’s Water Resources Department, local artist Jim Gallucci was commissioned to create a series of sculptures to provide educational information about the importance of water. This Wonder of Water Walk will feature interactive elements and signage to help visitors appreciate and understand the need to protect our local water system.

Exciting progress was made in 2024 for the future “Market + Branch” public art commission, to be located where the Western Branch crosses West Market Street. A total of 87 applications were received after a national call for artists, which were then narrowed down to 4 finalists. The Public Art Selection Panel hosted each finalist for a two-day visit to Greensboro in November and December. Final interviews and artist selection is anticipated in early 2025.

Ten mosaic stepping stones were created by members of the public during a free community workshop, led by artist Theresa Arico in April. The series of stones was then installed at the Vigilance bench site on the corner of East Market Street and Murrow Boulevard.

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After a much-needed refresh, the Downtown Greenway website received a brand new look - see it all for yourself at downtowngreenway.org . Be sure to check out the interactive map to locate public art, amenities, parking, transit stops, and so much more! Other exciting new features include a detailed public art portfolio, a history timeline of the project, and a user-friendly experience to keep up with our programs, events, and volunteer opportunities. We can't wait for our community to explore the new site and engage more with Greensboro's Downtown Greenway. NEW WEBSITE

COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH

The Downtown Greenway was in the spotlight throughout 2024, being featured across various news outlets, publications, and print media. In addition to general publicity and local news regarding construction and events, key highlights included:

Cover and feature in the Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Greensboro 2024 Visitors Guide Segments in two episodes of American Dream TV Feature story in Our State magazine Guest spot for five editions of the Fox8 Morning Show

Our social media platforms reached record engagement levels, and our Instagram account surpassed 7,000 followers! Downtown Greenway staff presented to state and regional audiences at the NC School Board Association Conference, the Great Trails State Conference, the NC Recreation & Park Association Conference, and others.

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AUDIO GUIDE This year we launched our free audio guide, available for download on iOS and Android devices. The Otocast app provides a self-paced narrated tour to help visitors explore the Downtown Greenway and learn about our public art, gardens, and more. Using geo-location technology, the app automatically shares useful information and historical insights about the points of interest you see along the way.

Community Partners 134 COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Special thanks to our 2024 program sponsors! Their continued support and generosity helped the Downtown Greenway have a positive impact on Greensboro, with an innovative slate of signature events and free community programs for all to enjoy.

Of course, contributions by donors to the Major Gifts and Final Mile Campaigns were instrumental in making the Downtown Greenway a reality, and the hub of activity it is today! Visit our website for a full listing of our community of donors.

LOOKING AHEAD As construction continues into 2025, we know there is a lot of excitement to come this next year! We look forward to seeing the progress along the Western Branch, installing additional pieces of public art, and offering even more exciting and new programs to enjoy. Mark your calendars for everyone’s favorite signature events - the 10th Annual Wheels on the Greenway (May 3, 2025) and the 16th Annual Downtown Greenway Run & Block Party (September 27, 2025).

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downtowngreenway.org @downtowngreenway Greensboro, North Carolina