In 2013, the estate of Carolyn and Maurice LeBauer gifted the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro with a bequest of $10 million to create a new urban park for “the benefit and enjoyment of the general population of Greensboro, particularly children and their families.”
Located on a 4.5-acre site in the heart of downtown Greensboro, LeBauer Park realigns key downtown streets to unite surrounding civic and arts institutions. With dynamic programming to serve residents of all ages, the park has become the heart of a new cultural arts district, which includes the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center, Central Public Library, and the Greensboro Historical Museum.
The central feature of the park is the concert lawn and performance pavilion, a 17,000 SF open area that can seat up to 4,000. The lawn is crowned with a permanent installation from renowned sculptor and fiber artist Janet Echelman. Her installation, entitled Where We Met, floats above the lawn as a net canopy and refers to the city’s history as a textile and railway capital.
The actively programmed park also includes a dog park, reading room, games area, croquet lawn, putting green and several cafes. Paired with these informal uses is a more formal and ornamental garden area in excess of an acre that is planted with 350 trees and over 60 different species of ornamental plants, which includes classic Southern garden plants as well as hardy native selections.
An experiential and sensory children’s area is a key design element to serve the diverse needs of the city. An interactive water feature plaza functions as an informal gateway into the 15,000 SF children’s garden. The splash pad delights younger children and leads into an area that includes a variety of custom elements, including a climbing wall, topographic landforms, a sand play area and a large hill with slides.
In addition to several food and beverage kiosks, LeBauer Park also accommodates the wide range of festivals and other civic-scale events from the great Greensboro area.
LeBauer Park offers a rich array of exceptional spaces and activities for the community to connect and celebrate. The park has become a must-see destination, attracting locals and visitors with its educational opportunities, cultural events and daily programming.
Project location: 208 N Davie St, Greensboro, NC 27401
Design year: 2014
Year Built: 2016
