Greensboro Parks and Recreation Annual Report 2021-2022

2 0 2 2 GREENSBORO PARKS AND RECREATION Annual Report | 2021-2022

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F R O M N A S H A Assistant City Manager and InterimDirector, Greensboro Parks and Recreation

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park, and tennis court expansion at Spencer Love Tennis Facility. We also unveiled early plans for the Windsor Chavis Nocho Community Complex, a new innovative community hub and destination that will radically reimagine the way library, recreation, health and wellness, and essential government services are ofered to residents of Greensboro. We ofcially took over operations of the programs for the Downtown Greenway, and we also started developing the department’s frst ever aquatics master plan, enlisting the help of our residents to reimagine existing recreational pools and spraygrounds. Momentum is building. The Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department’s nonproft partner, the Greensboro Parks Foundation, relaunched and started engaging signifcant donors to ensure ongoing, private support. It is the beginning of a new era. We hope you’re here for it, too. We are so grateful for the support of City Council, Parks and Recreation Commission members, our donors, and the community. You enable us to dream big – and achieve those big ideas. Together, we are helping to make a positive and lasting diference in the lives of Greensboro residents through the power of parks and transformational programs. Our work would not be possible without you.

Our city is growing and our community is changing. We’re working to become the most desirable mid-size city in the United States. Greensboro Parks and Recreation is ready for it. In fact, our transformation has already begun. We’re steadily working toward implementing the 10 Big Ideas and completing goals in Plan2Play, Parks and Recreation’s 20-year master plan, by enhancing our existing facilities, expanding unique programs, and connecting residents to an equitable park system. These eforts were recognized by our peers. We were honored by the NC Recreation and Park Association (NCRPA) for Adult Recess, our wildly popular adults-only event, and for Greensboro Online, a collaboration with the Greensboro Public Library, History Museum, and Creative Greensboro to promote virtual, on-demand programs and oferings. Councilwoman Sharon Hightower received the NCRPA Distinguished Legislator Award, the state association’s highest recognition for elected ofcials, for her support of the department and parks and recreation profession at the local, state, and national level. This past year brought the exciting grand opening of the frst phase of the Battleground Parks District, which includes FLYWAY, the City’s frst zipline, and the tree canopy walk, a relocated dog

Nasha McCray Assistant City Manager & Interim Director Parks and Recreation City of Greensboro

Our Leaders

Greensboro Parks and Recreation Leadership • Nasha McCray Interim Director • Kobe Riley Deputy Director • Charles Jackson Community Team

• Anthony Izzard • Scott Neely • Blake Odum

• Jef Smith

Greensboro City Council

Recreation Services Division Manager • Nancy Vaughan • Tony Royal Park Operations Division Manager • Shawna Tillery Planning & Project • Marikay Abuzuaiter At Large Development Division Manager • Michelle Kennedy At Large • Hugh Holston At Large Parks and Recreation • Sharon Hightower District 1 Commission • Goldie Wells District 2 • Emily Linden Chair • Justin Outling District 3 • Sue Henshall Vice Chair • Nancy Hofmann District 4 • Cheskesha Cunningham-Dockery • Tammi Thurm District 5 • Marsha Glazman Mayor • Yvonne Johnson Mayor Pro Tem

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Tank you to our sponsors and partners who have supported Greensboro Parks and Recreationwithin the last year. To see a complete list, please visit our website at: www.greensboro-nc.gov/sponsor

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By the Numbers

Regional Park& Garden Visitors 3.1 M AnnualsPlanted 13,336

6 ChildrenServedby Santa’sWorkshop 750+ Volunteer Hours 18,362 YouthCouncil VolunteerHours 850+

Event Center Rentals Barber Park 246 Gateway Garden 80

ShowWagon Rentals 30

Volunteers 2,906

Social Media Follower Growth 15% FACEBOOK 11% INSTAGRAM

Gillespie Golf Course Visitation 29% COURSE 10% RANGE

Athletics Revenue 50%

Online Trails & Greenway Map Views 37,230

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Moments That Made Our Year

The Place to Be It’s a thrill-seeker’s paradise. A place to be enveloped by nature. A memory-making space. It’s the exciting frst phase of a long-standing public-private partnership to beneft tourists and city residents alike: the Battleground Parks District, a joint efort to promote the recreation, historical, and museum sites surrounding Country Park. The $4 million project redeveloped Country Park property adjacent to the Greensboro Science Center with FLYWAY, a 700-foot zip line that sends riders sailing over the park’s Sloan Lake, and a meandering “canopy walk,” a 30-foot tall boardwalk through a grove of

towering maple, oak, birch, and beech trees. Other new features include a relocated dog park, new public restrooms, a 100-person picnic shelter, food truck hookups, and landscaping to reduce erosion and improve the water quality. With another six tennis courts being installed at the nearby Spencer Love Tennis Center and July’s $20 million bond referendum to further improve the Science Center, the Battleground Parks District is quickly becoming the place to be.

FLYWAY ZIP LINE Country Park

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A New ‘Xperience’ This year, we reimagined the former Caldcleugh Multicultural Art Center with stronger collaborations and a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) focus. Now called Xperience @ Caldcleugh, we’ve reworked the space, with its organic garden, classrooms, and black box theater, to better serve the needs of its neighbors, including Wiley Elementary School and Greensboro Housing Authority’s nearby Smith Homes community. It’s now home to a wide range of free offerings nights and weekends, like garden programs, a Lego club, life skills courses, and a girls’ mentorship program. “Full STEAM Ahead” gave kids 10-14 a chance to fy a drone and experiment with chemistry. They got to perform with a live band as part of a Cypher Series with The Poetry Café’s Josephus Thompson. Adults learned how to ballroom dance Detroit-style and practice yoga. Families hung out together at Family Art Night. We can’t wait to see how this space continues to grow.

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Moments That Made Our Year

A New Beginning In the last year, we have been busy planning with our colleagues in the Library Department for a one-of-a-kind space. The Windsor Chavis Nocho Community Complex will be a modern library, unparalleled recreation center, unique aquatic facility, and heart-of-the-community park. It will be an iconic, adaptable space that will transform two city blocks into the pride of east Greensboro. More than 900 residents helped shape the design and future program plans. In July, City voters decided to fund $50 million to make the project a reality. It was the ffth – and the largest – Parks and Recreation bond referendum approved by voters. Sixty-seven percent of voters said yes. There’s still years of planning, fundraising, and construction ahead, but we look forward to doing it with you.

ARTIST RENDERING Windsor Chavis Nocho

Enhance We’ve enhanced our existing assets.

Improved Facilities • Purchased 35 lithium battery carts for Gillespie Golf Course. Carts go longer between charges and charge faster than older carts, saving electricity. • Built playground at Heath Park, supported by Crescent Rotary Foundation donation. • Installed fve glass backboards and seven bottle flling stations in recreation centers. • Updated Lindley Pool locker rooms with new paint, non skid fooring, and shower curtains. • Launched efort to replace signs throughout the park system over the next two years with new ShopBot sign making machine. • Received $70,000 donation from USTA, USTA NC, and USTA Southern for Spencer Love Tennis Center expansion and renovation. • Received the MLB-MLBPA Youth Foundation Grant to add lighting at Peeler Community Park baseball feld, which expands use of the site. • Installed eight solar charging workstations throughout the City with funding by the City’s Participatory Budgeting program. Locations include Peeler Community Park, County Park, and the Central Library.

RevampedOutdoor Experiences • Installed newly designed trailhead signs, made possible by VF Corporation donation. • Partnered with Piedmont Fat Tire Society volunteers to make signifcant improvements on the Bald Eagle Trail. • Replaced 90-foot section of the Osprey Trail boardwalk with Friends of Mountain to Sea Trail volunteers. • Replaced 300-foot boardwalk on the Palmetto Trail, made possible by VF Foundation donation. • Received donation of 10 kayaks to lakes boat feet. • Built new Swan’s Song mountain bike trail in partnership with Piedmont Fat Tire Society. Beautifed Green Spaces • Planted 661 trees in partnership with Greensboro Beautiful. • Hosted 193 park, stream, and street cleanups. • Increased trail and greenway beautifcation eforts throughout trail system.

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SERENITY FALLS Bog Garden

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Expand We’ve created transformational programs.

KIDS IN THE GARDEN Xperience@Caldcleugh

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Launched Innovative NewPrograms • Hosted sold-out events for Take a Child Outside Week September 2021. Made possible by a donation from VF Corporation. • Hosted free outdoor movies at Barber Park in fall 2021 and summer 2022. • Partnered with YMCA of Greensboro to host Yoga in the Garden spring 2022 with more than 35 participants per week. • Launched Greensboro Mountain Bike Experience in spring 2022 with new staf, trailer, and bikes to help children and adults learn to mountain bike. • Hosted Keeley Park Farm Fest to provide composting education. This event was funded by the Participatory Budgeting program. Post Pandemic Programs • Held third annual Adult Recess in July 2021 with more than 700 in attendance.

• Hosted 2022 Senior Games in person with more than 260 participants. • Produced the dog-friendly events Dog Day at Keeley Park, Howloween Dog Tricking or Treating at Country Park, and FETCH Dog Egg Hunt. • Partnered with the Downtown Greenway for Wheels on the Greenway in April 2022 with a bike giveaway and more than 200 participants. • Greensboro Youth Council coordinated with Greensboro Downtown Parks Inc, UNCG, and Parks and Recreation Recreation Centers to provide the Ghoulash Drive Through Festival in October 2021. • Reached pre-pandemic full capacity numbers for all summer day camps in summer 2022. NewAdditions • Purchased mobile recreation unit trailer with donation from Greensboro Regional Realtors Association. Trailer will be used to host pop-up community events. • Added fve full-time staf to develop and implement programs, including specialized positions for environmental education and greenway and gardens.

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Connect We’ve partnered to uplift the community.

SupportedOur Diverse Community • Athletics section sponsored City of Greensboro’s World Refugee Day Celebration in partnership with the Human Rights Department. Community organizations assisted refugees and immigrants in securing a place to convene, celebrate, provide resources, and host a soccer game with City employee and refugee teams. • The North Carolina Civil Rights Trail recognized Gillespie Golf Course with a marker that honors the impact of the Greensboro Six, individuals who helped integrate the course in the 1950s. • Greensboro Sportsplex was named one of the top nine sports centers in the state by Best Things North Carolina. • Established a teen board leadership program to allow local teens the opportunity to continue enhancing leadership skills. • Youth Services ofered the Next Steps job preparation program and an interview skills workshop in partnership with NC Works and Greensboro Housing Authority.

• Greensboro Youth Council provided the opportunity for the community to explore various cultures through crafts and personal refections at the Cultural Awareness event held in partnership with Spring Blooming. Partnered to Build a Better Community • Expanded the Piedmont Discovery mobile park and trail location app to include information from six more Guilford County municipalities in October 2021. App now includes all facilities owned by Greensboro, High Point, Guilford County, Oak Ridge, Summerfeld, Pleasant Garden, Stokesdale, Jamestown, and Gibsonville. • Partnered with all Guilford County municipalities to host the 2022 Piedmont Discovery Scavenger Hunt. • Hosted Art in the Arboretum and Parisian Promenade in our gardens with Greensboro Beautiful. More than 4,000 people attended each event.

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50+ HIKING CLUB Nat Greene Trail

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Here We Grow We’ve completed projects throughout the community.

PLAYGROUND RIBBON CUTTING Heath Park

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Key Accomplishments PLANS UNDERWAY & COMPLETED • Master Plans for Fisher Park, Bog Garden, Twin Lakes Park, and Mayer Park • Friends Home Greenway Feasibility Study • Aquatics Masterplan • Barber Park Disc Golf Course Redesign UNDER CONSTRUCTION • Spencer Love Tennis Center Expansion and Building Renovation • Peeler Community Park Phase II & III • Arboretum Stream Restoration Project • North Bufalo Creek Greenway COMPLETED • Battleground Parks District: Country Park Hillside Phase 1 • Heath Park Playground • Barber Park Disc Golf Course

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