The Downtown Greenway is hosting its annual Run for the Greenway in October and regularly offers a variety of socially distanced activities for residents to participate in. Downtown Greenway Project Manager Dabney Sanders and Run for the Greenway Director Laura Lorenz discuss how they've adapted their programming due to COVID-19.
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This episode is sponsored by Truliant Federal Credit Union
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Today’s host is Dabney Sanders, the Downtown Greenway Project Manager.
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00:58 - Dabney welcomes listeners and introduces Laura Lorenz, who works with Dabney by fundraising and designing programming for the Downtown Greenway. Dabney and Laura share some background on the Downtown Greenway, progress on the project despite COVID-19, and what the Greensboro community has to look forward to with the Greenway!
3:45 - Laura explains how they have had to adapt Downtown Greenway programming because of COVID-19, but she feels confident and excited about the Fall programming schedule, as much of it can still be done outside, safely socially distanced. One new program this year is the Fall Nature Series that details how people can harvest locally grown produce and turn it into syrups, jams, and more.
8:10 - Dabney details another fall project, which is the redesign of LowFi (Lower Fisher) Park. The team is working with two professional permaculture gardeners to work on the redesign of the park to ensure that it is its own self-sustaining ecosystem.
9:12 - Laura talks a little about Goat Yoga, a unique yoga session for people of all levels that involves some cute little goat friends! It’s a great way to change things up and bring some extra fun to a yoga session.
11:15 - Laura also discusses the Wheels on the Greenway initiative, where citizens donate bikes to a kid in need, and they have collected over 100 bikes this season! The Downtown Greenway team is in the process of repairing those bikes to give out to kids all over the community.
13:35 - The Run for the Greenway Event, the biggest event for the Greenway team, is still happening this year, but virtually! You can sign up, pick up your runners packet, and then you run the 4-mile loop on your own between October 17th and October 31st. You can do it all in one day, or pace it out over a few days. Participants can post their times and photos to the race app to share with each other and still feel that great camaraderie of the event.
18:20 - Laura also mentions that there are always opportunities to get involved in clean-ups around town! Get your business or organization involved in volunteer workdays to keep our parks beautiful by pulling weeds and making sure trash is picked up. It’s a good way to give back to the community while also maintaining social distancing.
19:30 - Dabney gives us the latest updates on the Greenway construction, which has been able to progress despite COVID-19. There should be some construction on the east side of the loop finishing up in October, which will bring three miles completed of the four total! The final section will go out to bid towards the end of the year, and most likely get started with construction in 2021. The hope is that this time next year, the project will be almost completed!
22:30 - Laura and Dabney discuss the public art projects that are on display throughout the Greenway. In particular, Dabney talks about the Freedom Cornerstone, which is the fourth and final cornerstone project to be built. It will represent Greensboro’s history with the Sit-Ins and its role in the larger Civil Rights Movement. Dabney also talks about the Westwoods Project, which will be three large-scale earth castings that will begin in October, and that they are seeking art proposals for Moorehead Park to update that space after some recent bridge construction.
26:25 - Remember to stay engaged with the Downtown Greenway by participating in the many events they put on, volunteering, or supporting the project through contributions and donations. You can help make this incredible project happen for the community!
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Downtown Greenway Website: https://downtowngreenway.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DowntownGreenway
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DowntwnGreenway
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/downtowngreenway/
Downtown Greenway Programming and Events Schedule: https://downtowngreenway.org/events/
Want to join the 2020 Run 4 the Greenway Virtual Challenge?
Find more info and sign up here: https://downtowngreenway.org/2020-run-4-the-greenway-virtual-challenge/
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Make sure to follow impact. The Boro on social media!
Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: @gsochamber
Visit the Chamber website at greensboro.org.
Register for the race at downtowngreenway.org.
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