Planning, Design, & Construction Schedule

2011:

Construction begins on Phase 1A between West Lee Street and Spring Garden Street along the east side of Freeman Mill Road in May
Continued design work on Phase 3
Public meetings for phase 3 and 2E held May 19th
MPO recommends $2.8M in federal funding for the right of way purchase and construction of Phase 3 - May
Phase 1A artist bench - commissioned from Alloy Artisan Group in Wilmington, design approved, and under fabrication
Project Greenway, a citizens group interested in promoting support for the Downtown Greenway formed - Spring
Festival of Service, a collaboration between Urban Ministry, Healthserve, Greensboro College, Warnersville Historical & Beautification Society held April 3^rd with great enthusiasm and attendance
Ground Breaking for Phase 1A and trash pick up with Greensboro Beautiful’s Great American Clean-up held April 2^nd - over 60 volunteers collected over 200 bags of trash to be recycled
Public meetings held for phase 1A underpass art and landscaping in January

2010:

Community Meetings for Downtown Greenway Railroad Underpass Public Art Collaboration held on October 27, 2010 from 12:00-2:00pm and 5:00-7:00 pm at Blandwood Carriage House. Sculptor Jim Gallucci and Lighting Designer Scott Richardson met with residents to discuss this public art project. A $100,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts has made possible the creative renovation of an abandoned railroad underpass that will be a key link between the recently completed first phase of the Downtown Greenway and the next section to be constructed of the 4 mile trail that will eventually encircle downtown Greensboro. This artistic collaboration will include innovative lighting, sculpture, graphics, and landscaping to create a unique outdoor public art space.
Construction of Phase 1a from West Lee Street and Freeman Mill Road north to Spring Garden Street is expected to begin later this year.
Public meetings on Phase 3. This is the Northern section of the Downtown Greenway, running from Fisher Ave./Eugene St. south along Eugene St. to Smith St., west along Smith St. to Prescott St. This meeting held on July 29th from noon-2:00 and 5:00-7:00.
Work with New Zion Baptist Church, TND Partners, and the City’s Housing & Community Development Department continues on Phase 1 from Bragg Street and Arlington across MLK to East Lee Street.
Artist Juan Logan is commissioned to create a piece to commemorate the important history of Ashe Street in the Warnersville neighborhood as a special marker. Installation of this work is taking place in July.
Brower Hatcher completes The Gateway of the Open Book and stores it until the site is ready for installation.
A second round of public meetings are held to present the recommended concept for Phase 2.
A ribbon cutting is held to officially open the trail on March 24th. Click here for a video from the event.

2009:

Public meetings are held on design concepts for Phase 2 running from East Lee Street/Murrow Boulevard north to the intersection of Fisher Avenue/North Eugene Street. 3 concepts are presented and public input indicates a desire for enhanced greenspace and maximum space for the greenway.
Artist Brower Hatcher from Providence, Rhode Island is commissioned to design the first of 4 cornerstones to anchor the four corners of the Downtown Greenway. Brower’s theme is Motion to represent the importance of the transportation and education in this community and he proposes The Gateway of the Open Book. Click here for more information.
Artist Gary Gresko from Oriental, NC is commissioned to design the first of 12 artist benches. Gary works with the Warnersville neighborhood and creates the Five Points Bench which is installed in June. Click here for more information about the bench.
Construction of the trail is completed in June and the landscaping is installed in November. Click here for photos.
Ground is broken in March on the first phase - a 1/4 mile section in the SouthWest corner of the loop in the Warnersville neighborhood between south Eugene Street and East Lee Street on an easement donated to the City by Greensboro College.
Greenway committees are restructured to allow for a full partnership with the City of Greensboro.

2008:

Greensboro citizens support a Street Improvement Bond Referendum that allocates $12M to greenways and within that $7M for the Downtown Greenway.
City Council formally offers a resolution of support for the project.

2007:

Neighborhood meetings are continued and a more detailed look at how the Downtown Greenway will be designed and connect with other trails is pursued.
The City Council appointed Bicentennial Commission designates the Downtown Greenway as the signature project to commemorate the City's 200th birthday.
Dedicated staff hired to manage the project and work continues on refining plans.

2001-2006:

Volunteer committees formed and more detailed concepting for the Downtown Greenway begins. Broad based community input is begun.
Greensboro Urban Area Bicycling, Pedestrian, and Greenways Master Plan developed identifying the Downtown Greenway as the hub of the entire network of trails. Click here to see the Bi-Ped Plan.
Center City Master Plan developed identifying the Downtown Greenway as one of 3 major physical projects for downtown. Click here for more information about the Center City Master Plan.