Greensboro Launches Campaign for Bog Garden and Gateway Gardens

Greensboro Beautiful, in partnership with the City of Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department, announced a capital campaign on November 21 to raise funds for two significant public garden projects in Guilford County. The campaign will support replacement of the Bog Garden boardwalk at Benjamin Park and the development of The Gathering at Gateway Gardens, initiatives organizers say will protect long term access to natural spaces and create an accessible venue for community programming.

The Bog Garden boardwalk has served visitors for decades, offering a way to experience wetland habitat without disturbing sensitive areas. City and nonprofit leaders framed replacement work as necessary to preserve that access as structures age, and to ensure the trail remains safe and sustainable for future visitors. For local residents, the boardwalk provides outdoor recreation, environmental education opportunities, and a rare chance to observe wetlands within an urban park.

The Gathering at Gateway Gardens is planned as a new accessible greenspace designed to host community events and programming. The project aims to broaden where people can gather outdoors, with a focus on accessibility so that more residents, including those with mobility limitations, can participate in programs and enjoy nature. For neighborhoods near Gateway Gardens, the new space could expand options for organized activities, cultural events, and informal social connection.

Access to parks and natural areas influences public health and community wellbeing. Green spaces can offer settings for physical activity, stress reduction, and social cohesion, benefits that are particularly important in communities that have experienced gaps in access to quality outdoor spaces. By prioritizing an accessible gathering space and preserving a longstanding wetland boardwalk, the campaign addresses both environmental stewardship and equitable access to the mental and physical health benefits of nature.

The announcement also made clear that the campaign is a collaborative effort between a local nonprofit and municipal parks staff, highlighting the role that public private partnerships play in maintaining and expanding park infrastructure. The release included contact information for Greensboro Beautiful’s executive director for donors and partners seeking to support the effort.

With parks nationwide facing aging infrastructure and limited maintenance budgets, the Greensboro campaign underscores local choices about how to invest in public land and programming. Guilford County residents can expect fundraising and planning phases to unfold as organizers seek the resources needed to move from concept to construction. The projects, if fully funded, would preserve an established natural amenity and add a planned space intended to welcome a broader cross section of the community.