Bob Dowless, Director of Parks and Recreation - Today I inspected the work at the Downtown Connector Greenway, we are in the finishing stage. There have been many decisions and adjustments that have helped shape the final plans. One of the more significant decisions was to secure additional property surrounding the trail. This will help assure that  the natural environment will remain as it is today. We anticipate a grand opening around the first of June. 

The greenway is funded through grants from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and the North Carolina Department of Transportation as well as with city funds.

The downtown connector greenway trail is a part of the Downtown Greenway Loop, which will be marked by sidewalk stamping and banner flags. The four mile loop will follow Means Avenue to Union Street South to Patterson Court and on to Lawndale Avenue, connecting to McEachern Greenway and into McGee Park and back to the downtown connector.

There are technical facts to consider:
1.It is .75 miles in length from McGee Park to Union Street
2.It completes a 4 mile loop trail system, the Downtown Greenway Loop
3.There are 5 exercise stations and 2 shelters along the DCG.
4.The boardwalks are there to protect wetlands and stream buffers
5.The trail connects our downtown area with city parks and neighborhoods

As I change focus from inspection of the greenway to a greenway user I notice different things.   I see and hear the wildlife and see the beautiful floral colors, I hear the running water in the stream, the birds singing and know that the real beauty of this greenway trail is that it connects us to nature.