Stream Restoration in Lindley Park

The stream running through the Lindley Park near Market Street is undergoing restoration to return it to a more natural and environmentally healthy condition. The restoration work is being financed and implemented by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) under a cooperative agreement with the City of Greensboro's Storm Water Services Division. While the NCDOT gets stream mitigation credits for this project to compensate for the disturbance to natural streams incidental to the Greensboro urban loop project, the City benefits from the restoration of the stream to a natural and beautified condition compared to its currently degraded condition.

As a part of the restoration work, unstable banks of the stream will be stabilized and a meandering low flow channel will be created within the existing stream. Riffles and pools in the stream will be created or existing ones improved, which will enhance fish and other aquatic life. Vegetative buffers will be created along the stream banks except in areas dedicated to public recreational use. The buffers will help maintain the integrity of the stream banks and filter the stormwater running off the adjacent areas into the stream. Four open access areas will be provided in the buffers for the public to access the stream. The stream banks will be vegetated with specially selected trees and shrubs that will complement the vegetation in the Arboretum. Some typical plants are dogwood, willow, and elderberry. The tree planting scheme is planned not to interfere with the use of play equipment located along the East bank of the stream in the Starmount Park.

The construction work for the restoration is scheduled to take place from the April 10 through June 10. During this period, use of the play equipment along the stream bank and the access to the Arboretum via the pedestrian bridge crossing of the stream will be disrupted. They will both be reopened for public use as soon as possible. The City and the NCDOT will do their utmost to minimize the period of disruption and maintain the safety of the public visiting the park.