Design Plans Unveiled For New $10-Million LeBauer Park in Greensboro

Greensboro is getting a new $10-million park that will connect the cultural district downtown. The design for the Carolyn & Maurice LeBauer Park in downtown Greensboro was shown to the public for the first time on Tuesday.

The 3 ½ acre park will include a giant children's play area, a performance area for concerts and shows,  a dog park, an interactive water plaza and outdoor reading rooms where they can check out magazines or books. 

“This park really promises to transform downtown Greensboro and bridge all of these existing cultural assets that we have downtown," says Lynn Wooten, with the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro. "It is really quite something and it is amazing to think that all of this is the result of the generosity of one person who's final wishes were to take her estate and make this possible for everyone in her community.” 

The project is made possible by longtime Greensboro resident Carolyn LeBauer. She died in March 2012 and left the bulk of her estate to the  foundation with the strict instruction that it be used to build a park for the community to enjoy.

"Mrs. LeBauer loved gardening and horticulture, so it's fitting that the design also include lots of gardens and plants," says Wooten.

In addition, the Armfield Foundation in Greensboro is pledging $1-million to build a massive piece of public art within the park.  “It's a suspended aerial sculpture by an artist from Boston  named Janet Eckelman. She has pieces all over the world and is currently making one for the headquarters of the Bill Gates Foundation, so this is a big deal for Greensboro. This piece of artwork will draw people from far away to see this,” says Wooten.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new LaBauer Park in downtown Greensboro will take place Wednesday morning. It's expected to open in spring of 2016.

Follow Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news