The Greensboro Downtown Greenway received the 2026 North Carolina Great Healthy Place Award from the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-NC) Awards Committee during the organization's state conference on Wednesday, October 21.

The award celebrates community amenities that encourage activity and exploration. These awards are presented annually to recognize the places, projects, and people representing the highest levels of achievement in the North Carolina planning community.

"This recognition is a wonderful reflection of what the Downtown Greenway was envisioned to become: a place that connects people, neighborhoods, and experiences while enhancing the health and vitality of our community," said Chelsea Phipps, the City's greenway and gardens program coordinator. "After 25 years of thoughtful planning, collaboration, and investment, it's especially meaningful to see the completed Downtown Greenway recognized as a Great Healthy Place. This award belongs to the many partners, supporters, and community members who helped turn this vision into reality."

The Downtown Greenway is a four-mile, multi-use urban trail that forms a continuous loop around downtown Greensboro, linking a diverse range of neighborhoods, parks, cultural destinations, and commercial areas. Its circular design is a defining feature, creating a complete and intuitive system that encourages movement and exploration while improving pedestrian and bicycle connectivity throughout the urban core.