Downtown Greenway 2024 Year In Review

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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