Help Plan the Downtown Greenway

Action Greensboro is asking for input in planning a greenway around downtown, and is holding public workshops to that end on Tuesday, Feb. 1st at their offices (317 South Elm Street) at 3 different times: 7:30-9:30 a.m., 12-2 p.m., and 5-7 p.m. Take your pick.

I'll be there at 5. Rich Flierl, the design consultant from the Cooper Carry Center for Connective Architecture in Atlanta, will make presentations and City of Greensboro parks personnel will be available to answer questions and record suggestions.

I'm completely in favor of the Greenway, as it will run about 50 yards from my house, and I won't have to drive to Country Park for long runs anymore. So I expect you all to support this important endeavor! ; )

In truth, I think the greenway will be a very good thing -- just one more enticement to live in Greensboro's ever-more appealing central neighborhoods.

I stopped in earlier this evening at Action Greensboro's Groundbreakers meeting, where Rich Flierl gave a preliminary presentation about the greenway plan. I was impressed by the sheer number of volunteers (hundreds) present, and by the number of Greensboro bigwigs in attendance. Yvonne Johnson, Don Vaughan, Betty Cone, Trip Brown, Rob Bencini, and Jim Melvin were a few who I could see sitting in my area.

I was also impressed at what this group has been able to accomplish in its short life. The new downtown ballpark and the center city park are only two of its most visible projects, but it's had a hand in countless intiatives attracting businesses, students, and "young professionals" to Greensboro.

And I couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy at its clout and huge cash reserves, as my neighbors and I slog along on small-scale renewal projects and fight underfunded, rearguard actions against decline in our little corner of Greensboro.