South Greensboro Area Plan - Public Review Draft - 9.25.25

Community Input: Summary of Priorities and Needs Synthesized from individual workshop summaries, stakeholder interviews, and online public survey.

WHAT PEOPLE WANT the city delivered through accessible channels like social media, neighborhood meetings, local radio and community events. 1. Environment & Infrastructure » Residents raised concerns about stormwater management, flooding, and pollution—especially near industrial corridors and highways. » Community members expressed strong support for green infrastructure such as rain gardens, tree preservation, native landscaping, greenways and ecological restoration to enhance environmental quality and resilience. » Basic infrastructure needs—like pothole repairs, contiguous sidewalks, and improved city service response—were frequently mentioned. 2. Parks, Recreation, and Open Space » There is strong support for expanded park amenities, such as amphitheaters, walking trails, soccer fields, and programming for seniors and youth. » Residents expressed interest in ecological parks and nature based recreation, particularly in flood-prone areas like JJ Drive and Creek Ridge Road. » Safety improvements in parks—such as lighting, visibility, and fencing—are a high priority. » The community supports a 10-minute walk-to-park goal to ensure equitable access to green space. » The community seeks equitable and convenient access to an aquatic facility. 3. Mobility, Safety, and Connectivity » Residents emphasized the need for contiguous sidewalk connectivity, bike lanes, pedestrian-scale lighting, and safer crossings, especially along Randleman Road, Elm-Eugene Street, and Vandalia Road. » There is a strong preference for transit that better reflects rider’s needs, from better headways to important destinations (e.g., school, medical, grocery, employment centers, retail, worship, recreation, entertainment, etc.) as well as flexible, on-demand transit options, reflecting a desire for more convenient and accessible transportation. » Greenway expansion is widely supported, particularly to connect neighborhoods, parks, and schools, with specific interest in routes near Brown Recreation Center and Shannon Woods Park. » Safety concerns include cut-through truck traffic, speeding, poor lighting, and limited pedestrian infrastructure, especially for youth and seniors. 4. Culture, Identity, and Communication » There is strong interest in public art, festivals, and programming that reflect the area’s culture and history. » Community members want indoor and outdoor community spaces for wellness, events, and cultural exchange. » Improved communication is needed, including multilingual outreach, youth engagement, and consistent updates from

5. Housing, Land Use, and Development » Community members want a broader mix of housing types, including suburban-style homes, duplexes, townhomes, and mixed-use developments. » There is a perception that there is a disproportionate concentration of income-restricted housing in south Greensboro and there is a desire for equitable distribution citywide. » Residents support catalyst developments and public-private partnerships to revitalize underutilized sites, especially near I-85 and along Randleman Road, and to create vibrant, walkable community nodes. » Beautification of corridors and the addition of gateway treatments at major highway interchanges are seen as essential to improving the area’s image and attracting investment. 6. Economic Opportunity & Local Business Support » The community wants more diverse, neighborhood-scale retail, a greater variety of dining options, and additional full service grocers. » There is strong support for local entrepreneurship, including resource hubs, pop-up markets, and support for minority- and immigrant-owned businesses. » Existing business operators, employers and employees want business services print and ship providers (e.g., FedEx Office, Office Depot, Staples, etc.). » Workforce development is a priority, with calls for job training programs and partnerships with major employers to build a local employment pipeline. » Employers and business operators want increased public safety measures to support the attraction and retention of employees and patrons. 7. Health, Wellness, and Daily Services » There is a strong desire for nearby urgent care centers, dental clinics, and wellness facilities that serve all age groups. » Residents support expanded health education, senior fitness programs, and youth programs, such as mentoring and tutoring. » Improving food access emerged as a concern for residents, with strong calls for more farmers markets, food pantries, community gardens, and restaurants or grab-and-go options that offer affordable, healthy meals.

Draft

SOUTH GREENSBORO AREA PLAN / 39

PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT - 9/25/25