For Release 6 November 2013 – Greenville County Pedestrian and Bicycle Network Improvement Plan
Bike Walk Greenville and the Greenville County Planning Department cordially invites all community members to attend one of four open houses focused on improving pedestrian and bicycle conditions in strategic places within the county. The open houses are part of a charrette (an intense period of design or planning activity) at which feedback from the general public and targeted groups will be gathered to inform the development of a Greenville County Pedestrian and Bicycle Network Plan.
The drop-in public workshops will be held across the county at the following times, dates and locations:
- Tuesday November 19 at Greenville City Hall 206 S Main St First Floor Conference Room from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.
- Wednesday November 20 at Greer City Hall 301 E Poinsett St from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Thursday November 21 at Mauldin Cultural Center 101 E Butler Rd from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Friday 22 November 2013 at Greenville City Hall First Floor Conference Room from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Summary presentation at Noon)
The planning process kicked off several months ago when Greenville County staff began work on a pedestrian and bicycle network plan in concert with local active transportation advocacy representatives. A steering committee made up of county staff and representatives from local advocacy and community groups, has been tasked with drafting the plan by early 2014 for adoption by Greenville County Council.
The plan goal is to define the County’s long-term vision for an improved pedestrian and bicycle network and to identify cost-effective strategies for implementing that vision. The plan will emphasize the areas around schools and other key corridors that connect parks, employment centers, and other commercial areas. A critical component of the plan will be input from the citizens who live, work, and attend school in Greenville County.
Bike Walk Greenville volunteer Mike Nice has developed an innovative on-line tool to allow Citizens to submit locations where sidewalks and bike lanes are needed. Over 500 submissions have been received so far, and citizens are encouraged to add more ideas prior to or during the charrette period by going to https://greenvilleopenmap.info/WalkBikeSurvey.html
The charrette will be facilitated by local representatives from nationally-recognized planning and design firm Alta Planning + Designs. Public workshops will have a drop-in format to allow citizens to attend for as long or as short a period of time as their schedules allow. The final open house, on Friday, November 22nd, will include a summary presentation at Noon. Funding to hire the firm, whose staff are donating some of their services, came from private sources including the YMCA, LiveWell Greenville, and Hollingsworth Funds through Upstate Forever.
For further information please contact the following people:
Tiffany Wedmore – Greenville County Planning Department 864-467-7278
Jean Crowther – Alta Planning + Design 864-205-5650
Frank Mansbach- Bike Walk Greenville 864-281-4279
Lisa Scott Hallo- Upstate Forever – 864-250-0500 ext 33