Greensboro's Downtown Greenway Loop

[cityboi 2062]

The downtown Greenway loop planned to encircle downtown Greensboro is moving forward. The Greensboro Bicentennial Committee will pursue funding for the project. The greenway will be the first of its kind in North Carolina and will include parks, water features, biking paths, outdoor classrooms which also borders Greensboro College, recreational facilities, outdoor art galleries and more! the downtown loop will connect with trails that go through the city. The entry areas of the downtown greenway will include tall light columns. other features that are proposed for the greenway in one of the parks are tennis courts, multi-purpose sports building, community pavillion and a jr outdoor competition pool.

http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../-1/NEWSREC0201

also here are some diagrams and sketches

http://www.actiongreensboro.org/documents/...workdiagram.pdf

http://www.actiongreensboro.org/documents/ppt/1mileentry.pdf

http://www.actiongreensboro.org/documents/ppt/1mileentry.pdf

http://www.actiongreensboro.org/documents/...ilemidupper.pdf

http://www.actiongreensboro.org/documents/...3milemiddle.pdf

http://www.actiongreensboro.org/documents/...5milebottom.pdf

http://www.actiongreensboro.org/documents/...tsyDiagrams.pdf

http://www.actiongreensboro.org/documents/ppt/AXON.pdf

http://www.actiongreensboro.org/documents/...agramsboard.pdf

http://www.actiongreensboro.org/documents/ppt/EGDboard10.pdf

http://www.actiongreensboro.org/documents/ppt/fishersec.pdf

http://www.actiongreensboro.org/documents/ppt/magicsec.pdf

http://www.actiongreensboro.org/documents/ppt/murrowblvd.pdf

http://www.actiongreensboro.org/documents/ppt/murrowsec.pdf

http://www.actiongreensboro.org/documents/...orClassroom.pdf

http://www.actiongreensboro.org/documents/...nishings%20.pdf

Edited September 11, 2007 by cityboi

[luvdowntowngso 3]

As a biker, jogger, and soon to be resident of DT Greenboro, I'm very excited about the Greenway project.

I'm not totally sure I like the idea of closing one half of Murrow Boulevard. However, this may be the best or only way to go to develop the eastern track of the greenway. It is true that the boulevard is currently underused.

As the DT population increases, so will the traffic. It is vital that city planners keep this in mind and make sure adequate streets and highways are developed to meet this increasing demand. While it is exciting to see all the bumper-to-bumper traffic on Elm St., we can not let this become a problem for DT and drive people away.

[cityboi 2062]

As a biker, jogger, and soon to be resident of DT Greenboro, I'm very excited about the Greenway project.

I'm not totally sure I like the idea of closing one half of Murrow Boulevard. However, this may be the best or only way to go to develop the eastern track of the greenway. It is true that the boulevard is currently underused.

As the DT population increases, so will the traffic. It is vital that city planners keep this in mind and make sure adequate streets and highways are developed to meet this increasing demand. While it is exciting to see all the bumper-to-bumper traffic on Elm St., we can not let this become a problem for DT and drive people away.

interesting observation. It was the bumper to bumper traffic in downtown that initiated the development for Highway 29, I-40/85 in the first place.

[ezcheese 0]

i take murrow blvd off of lee street home every night on my way back from burlington. i live off of battlegroud in northwest greensboro and it's by far the fastest way to go when there is little traffic. it really is rarely traveled at any time of day though. with the new 840 loop open, there will be even less of a use for murrow for anyone coming off the interstate and travelling to north greensboro so it probably won't be a big deal.

[krazeeboi 165]

Sounds good to me.

[cityboi 2062]

Next year Greensboro will celebrate its bicentennial. Greensboro was founded in 1808. the 2008 event will be the largest celebration in the city's history covering 54 days. The signature project for the bicentennial commission will be the 4.2-mile greenway that will encircle downtown Greensboro.

http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...C0101/301310007

[krazeeboi 165]

Greensboro is actually pretty young when compared with other cities of significant size in the Southeast; wasn't aware of that. But I think the opening of a greenway is a nice way to celebrate; it will be something that will last and give recreational enjoyment to residents of the area for years to come.

[cityboi 2062]

Greensboro is actually pretty young when compared with other cities of significant size in the Southeast; wasn't aware of that. But I think the opening of a greenway is a nice way to celebrate; it will be something that will last and give recreational enjoyment to residents of the area for years to come.

actually the greenway wont be built by 2008 but is the official signature project the commission will be taking on. It will be the first such Greenway in North Carolina. I hear that Charlotte has a loop uptown greenway in its 2015 plan as well.

[NcSc74 354]

I'm no history expert but I'm sure some form of G-boro was around before 1808. Wasn't the former name Greensborough or something and before that Guilford couthouse around the Revolutionary War era. It has to be 200 years since "incorporation" isn't it and not actually founded.

[cityboi 2062]

I'm no history expert but I'm sure some form of G-boro was around before 1808. Wasn't the former name Greensborough or something and before that Guilford couthouse around the Revolutionary War era. It has to be 200 years since "incorporation" isn't it and not actually founded.

true, im sure the "settlement" of Greensborough existed before 1808 but the incorporation was 1808. It wasnt called Greensborough until it incorporated though.

[otherstream 0]

I'm no history expert but I'm sure some form of G-boro was around before 1808. Wasn't the former name Greensborough or something and before that Guilford couthouse around the Revolutionary War era. It has to be 200 years since "incorporation" isn't it and not actually founded.

The town of Geensborough (which initially covered an area much smaller than just downtown is today) was both laid out and incorporated in 1808 as a new and more central county seat to replace the old one at Martinsville, a separate town near Guilford Battleground. Of course, there's not a Martinsville anymore; it's all part of Greensboro now. But in 1808, Martinsville was several miles away from the new town. The only reminder of the old county seat is Martinsville Road that currently runs off Battleground Avenue.

There may have been some small farms in the area that was incorporated in 1808, but there was definitely not anything resembling a town there. Even Martinsville wasn't much of a town in those days.

[cityboi 2062]

The town of Geensborough (which initially covered an area much smaller than just downtown is today) was both laid out and incorporated in 1808 as a new and more central county seat to replace the old one at Martinsville, a separate town near Guilford Battleground. Of course, there's not a Martinsville anymore; it's all part of Greensboro now. But in 1808, Martinsville was several miles away from the new town. The only reminder of the old county seat is Martinsville Road that currently runs off Battleground Avenue.

There may have been some small farms in the area that was incorporated in 1808, but there was definitely not anything resembling a town there. Even Martinsville wasn't much of a town in those days.

Its interesting to look and go back and see all the little communities Greensboro swallowed up.

[NcSc74 354]

The town of Geensborough (which initially covered an area much smaller than just downtown is today) was both laid out and incorporated in 1808 as a new and more central county seat to replace the old one at Martinsville, a separate town near Guilford Battleground. Of course, there's not a Martinsville anymore; it's all part of Greensboro now. But in 1808, Martinsville was several miles away from the new town. The only reminder of the old county seat is Martinsville Road that currently runs off Battleground Avenue.

There may have been some small farms in the area that was incorporated in 1808, but there was definitely not anything resembling a town there. Even Martinsville wasn't much of a town in those days.

Thanks didn't know that. I lived there for 4 years and was under the impression the actual settlement was a lot older. Was lawndale an actual town or village of some sort back then. I really loved the Boro and as I have said on this forum for a while. It will be a hard choice between Greensboro and Charlotte when I finally settle down. I remember the last day I was in the city. I had to go to the Polo factory to pick up my last check. I worked there during the summer while I was out of school(temp service hook up). I remember the super K-mart had just opened up on that end of Wendover and the trees were being cut down for a new housing development. I think it was right before the High Point city limits sign. Up until that time I didn't know that the two cities bordered each other on that side of town.

[cityboi 2062]

the 100 year celebration in 1908 included a new building called the Hippodrome. Its was a downtown arena that could seat 18,000 to 20,000 people. The building had seating much like a modern basketball arena, with a dirt floor and cinder track in the center. The Greensboro Auditorium Co bougt the corrugated iron building from the Jamestown Exposition of 1907. So you could say it was the first downtown arena in the state and probabally even the south. It was sold to Columbia, South Carolina in 1912 and was destroyed by fire in 1966.

http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../-1/NEWSREC0201

Edited February 5, 2007 by cityboi

[hugh 0]

Its interesting to look and go back and see all the little communities Greensboro swallowed up.

My guesses: Pomona, Hamilton Lakes and Guilford College.

[cityboi 2062]

My guesses: Pomona, Hamilton Lakes and Guilford College.

Proximty is another town but there are a bunch more

[otherstream 0]

There was also Warnersville, originally an African-American suburb south of Lee Street. It was completely obliterated by urban renewal clearance.

There were also communities called Bessemer and Hilltop, although like most of the others, they weren't actually incorporated. I think Hamilton Lakes is the only actual incorporated entity that was merged into Greensboro, which is ironic since it was originally incorporated to avoid annexation. I think I recall reading that the city of Hamilton Lakes went bankrupt or had some other financial issue, but I'm not 100% certain.

[cityboi 2062]

Rankin, Mt. Zion, Friendship, Rudd, Brightwood, Oakwood, Pinecroft, Vandalia, Edgeville, Broadview, Sedgefield, Rocky Knoll, Fairfield, White Oak, Revolution, Latham Town, Westerwood and Terra Cotta are other communities Greensboro swallowed up.

Edited February 7, 2007 by cityboi

[cityboi 2062]

here are some old 1908 photos of Greensboro showing the 100th year. My Grandmother and Grandfather on my father's side was 3 years old at the time

my my...Elm Street had cobblestone streets back then.

btw here was the Guilford County Courthouse at the time

Edited February 7, 2007 by cityboi

[roningreensboro 0]

I'm no history expert but I'm sure some form of G-boro was around before 1808. Wasn't the former name Greensborough or something and before that Guilford couthouse around the Revolutionary War era. It has to be 200 years since "incorporation" isn't it and not actually founded.

Your right, when it was Guilford courthouse downtown was actually where the battle of Guilford Courthouse was. Then they realized that the actual county seat was 8 miles south where downtown is today and where Greensborough born.

[cityboi 2062]

Your right, when it was Guilford courthouse downtown was actually where the battle of Guilford Courthouse was. Then they realized that the actual county seat was 8 miles south where downtown is today and where Greensborough born.

you are right. the courthouse was moved. It would be interesting today to see what downtown would look like today if they had not moved the courthouse. Downtown Greensboro would have been located where Battleground Ave in Northwest Greensboro is today.

[DigitalSky 5]

Wow thanks for sharing those cool pics!

[suburban george3 1]

Awesome pics! Thanks for posting them!

[redjeep77 16]

great pics, i love seeing how cities used to look back in the day. When did Greensboro get rid of the trolley line?

[cityboi 2062]

im not sure. I want to say the 1930s