Living in Greensboro has perks, and we want you to know about them. Whether you’re looking to get your kid into sports or want to know if the city picks up your leaves, we hope this guide is helpful!
Last updated: October 19, 2023
Greensboro Organizations
Numerous nonprofit, economic development, and business organizations within Greensboro offer various resources, like city maps, business directories, and statistics.
Downtown Greensboro, Inc.
Downtown Greensboro Incorporated (DGI) is an economic development and nonprofit organization that stimulates investment and activity in the city’s center. The organization provides a wide range of services:
- Recruits new businesses to Greensboro – DGI works with entrepreneurs interested in opening small stores to large investors examining multi-use redevelopment projects.
- Maintains demographic data, property information, consultant reports, and studies and tracks existing and proposed investments.
- Marketing – DGI’s website provides a free listing for all Downtown businesses, a mapping function, and a range of other information. DGI is also active in social media and directs a multi-faceted advertising campaign to promote Downtown as a fun and lively destination. The e-newsletter is distributed each Thursday to subscribers interested in upcoming events and activities.
- Public safety, parking, and public space management – Programs include enhanced trash services, urban design issues, transportation issues, and frequent interaction with police and fire officials.
- Advocacy and education services – DGI recommends action by local government and gives presentations to civic and social groups.
Greensboro Beautiful
Greensboro Beautiful, Inc. is a nonprofit volunteer organization that partners with the City and citizens of Greensboro to conserve and enhance the beauty and ecology of the community. Private funding and volunteers support the organization’s community enhancement projects and programs, like garden enhancements, tree plantings, and litter cleanups.
Greensboro Coliseum Complex
The Greensboro Coliseum Complex includes nine venues:
- Greensboro Coliseum – Has a distinguished history of hosting ACC and NCAA basketball championships and concerts by some of the top names in the music industry.
- Special Events Center – The busiest of the Coliseum Complex’s venues includes three exhibition halls, a 5,000-seat mini-arena, and eight meeting rooms.
- Odeon Theatre – One of the original structures of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, the 302-seat Odeon Theatre has hosted events by the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, touring Broadway productions, local community theater productions, comedy shows, performing arts performances, and private events.
- The Terrace – This upscale banquet facility has three levels of column-free space. It is ideal for hosting speaking engagements, hospitality functions, and dining events in a functional, richly decorated setting.
- White Oak Amphitheatre – An outdoor entertainment venue that hosts diverse live entertainment events.
- Greensboro Aquatic Center – A state-of-the-art facility, one of the top in the nation, that features cutting-edge concepts in aquatic design. The facility hosts competitive swimming and diving, water polo, synchronized swimming, and other unique sports.
- ACC Hall of Champions – The Hall features content that honors academic and athletic accomplishments. It celebrates past, present, and future ACC conference success through the design and use of interactive displays, unique institutional exhibits, and multi-purpose program space that showcases the league’s storied history.
- Novant Health Fieldhouse – The newly renovated, state-of-the-art structure is the home of the Charlotte Hornets NBA G League franchise, the Greensboro Swarm.
- Piedmont Hall – This new $4 million warehouse renovation includes backstage support space and production to host various public and private live entertainment events. This indoor venue has an open floor plan with multiple levels that can service myriad event configurations. Concert events are general admission with standing room only.
- Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts – This state-of-the-art facility has a seating capacity of approximately 3,000 in downtown Greensboro. The Greensboro Coliseum Complex staff manages the Tanger Center.
Visit Greensboro
The Greensboro Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is a nonprofit and independent governmental authority whose mission is to market Greensboro’s assets aggressively, maximizing economic impact while providing excellent visitor service.
Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce is the largest business organization in the community, serving more than 1,300 member businesses. A partner in the Guilford County Economic Development Alliance, the Chamber also serves as Greensboro’s primary economic development organization, emphasizing community and entrepreneurial advancement through Action Greensboro and Launch Greensboro. In 2022, the Greensboro Chamber became 5-Star Accredited by the US Chamber of Commerce, making the organization in the top 2% of Chambers nationwide.
Downtown Greensboro
Downtown Greensboro Attractions
College Deals in Downtown Greensboro – Show your college I.D. and snag discounts from participating businesses in downtown Greensboro.
Downtown Greensboro App – Available in the App Store or Google Play
Pay By App Option for Downtown Metered Parking
Downtown drivers can ditch their coins. The City of Greensboro now lets drivers pay to park at all meters and three City-owned surface parking lots using the online payment system Parkmobile.
Register for Parkmobile by downloading the iPhone, Android, or Windows phone app and following the instructions to set up payment by credit card, PayPal, or Masterpass. Locate the green Parkmobile sign on the meter or near the pay station to identify your parking location and choose how long you want to park. The system will alert you when your meter is about to expire. If you have yet to exceed the time limit at your meter, you can buy more time to park remotely.
Drivers who do not have a smartphone may still pay by phone to park. Register for Parkmobile online and call 1-877-727-5301 to pay for metered parking.
In addition to the metered downtown parking spaces, Parkmobile is also available at the City-County, Depot, Federal Place, Washington Street, Commerce Street, and NC A&T. For more information, visit the Parkmobile website.
Greensboro Social District
Stroll with your alcoholic beverage through the City of Greensboro’s Border of Refreshments Outdoors (BORO) program, which designates areas where you can drink alcoholic beverages from area businesses in outdoor public spaces during specified times.
Greensboro Utilities & City Services
Greensboro Water and Sewer Service
Greensboro Yard Waste Collection
G.S.O. Collects app
The G.S.O. Collects app includes garbage and recycling schedules and reminders. Collection day reminders automatically adjust to holidays and inclement weather. You can use a Waste Wizard search engine to determine what you can recycle. Is your trash cart broken? Do you need to report a pothole or a broken streetlight? Report that through the app and skip waiting to speak to someone. Download in the App Store and Google Play.
Greensboro Leaf Collection
2023-2024 Schedule:
- Leaves curbside by November 6 will be picked up by December 22.
- Leaves curbside by January 2 will be picked up by February 2.
See changes to leaf collection beginning in November 2024. Check the interactive map to find out when your neighborhood will have leaves collected. The leaf collection schedule may change due to inclement weather. The city doesn’t collect loose leaves on private streets.
Greensboro’s Online Payments System – Use to pay water bills, parking tickets, building inspection permits, temporary right-of-way closures, business permits, taxicab privilege licenses, beer/wine privilege licenses and renewals, and other miscellaneous invoices (false burglar alarms, monthly deck parking, fire violations, daycare facility fees, etc.)
Greensboro City Safety
E-Notify – A free subscription notification service that allows you to receive automatic Greensboro news and events alerts via e-mail on various topics.
Text to 9-1-1 – If you can’t make a phone call during an emergency, you can send a short message service (SMS) text to local 9-1-1 call centers. If you can call, do it. Only text if you cannot call.
Text to 9-1-1 benefits the approximately 34 million Americans who are hard of hearing, deaf, or speech-impaired. Text to 9-1-1 could also help when a crime is in progress, a caller is facing domestic abuse or is injured and cannot speak, and in many other similar situations. Only text if you cannot call.
Greensboro Community Crime Map
Crime data within city limits is extracted from the Greensboro Police Department’s records system, allowing you to view up to 180 days of crime data by various search parameters, including date range, crime type, or distance from a specific address. The website also allows you to develop queries specific to your interests and request automatic e-mails with crime information updates.
Yellow Dot Program – Let first responders know crucial medical information is available and where it can be found in case of an automobile accident, after an in-home injury, or in response to an illness.
Often, during an emergency, people with injuries or in shock cannot communicate personal medical information emergency personnel need to know, nor do they have a family member present who can relay that information. With Yellow Dot, the Emergency Information Sheet communicates for them.
You can submit Emergency Information Sheets for people with dementia, Alzheimer’s, autism, and cognitive impairments to the Sheriff’s Office to add to Guilford Metro 9-1-1’s database, allowing dispatchers to inform first responders about these conditions before arriving on the scene.
Greensboro Apps
GIS Interactive Maps & Apps – View topics on Greensboro city services
GSO Collects App – Never miss your trash or recycling pickup. Also, view your trash schedule, the waste wizard, and look up recycle drop-off locations
GTA Live Bus Tracker – Track your GTA or HEAT bus live with this real-time bus tracking system
My Police Department – Stay informed on crime and safety issues
Parkmobile – Pay for parking at City-owned surface lots and metered parking
Piedmont Discovery – Explore parks and trails throughout Guilford County
Greensboro City Guides, Maps, & Locators
Greensboro, NC 2023 Visitors Guide
Map of Public Art in Greensboro – Greensboro has a collection of over 150 public artworks for the community to enjoy. Check out the Public Art Map and start exploring!
Guides & Maps for Exploring Greensboro’s Outdoors
Map of Greensboro’s Trails & Greenways
Greensboro Parks and Gardens – Find a park or garden near you or search by the amenity you want, such as picnic shelters or playgrounds.
Piedmont Discovery app – A park and trail locater mobile app designed and managed by Greensboro, High Point, Pleasant Garden, Jamestown, Gibsonville, Summerfield, Stokesdale, and Guilford County. Download the app now to search hundreds of local parks, trails, and recreation opportunities.
Greensboro Parks and Gardens – Find a park or garden near you or search by the amenity you want, such as picnic shelters or playgrounds.
Greensboro Resources for Parents & Kids
Guilford County Parent Resources – Find educational resources for parents and students alike.
Coach’s Corner – Sign up to be a Greensboro youth athletic coach.
Safety Town – A two-hour-a-day, two-week program for children that teaches safety lessons on strangers, traffic, pedestrians, fire, bicycles, buses, poisons (including drugs), water, and guns.
Kid-Friendly Activities in Downtown Greensboro – The Downtown Greensboro Guide.
Greensboro Public Library – Fantastic resources for children and teens of all ages.
Through the Greensboro Public Library, librarians can recommend books for your children and introduce you to tools for homework and research assistance. Each location offers fun and exciting children’s programs that help develop literacy skills while inspiring the joys of reading.
Storytime
Storytime is a fantastic way to nurture a love of reading and cultivate essential pre-reading skills in your child.
Storytime Station Online
Storytime Station Online brings many activities, crafts, and book selections from storytimes across the Greensboro Public Library system together for fun at home.
G.L.O.W. (Greensboro Libraries On Weekends)
G.L.O.W. is a program for families with fun, creative, educational activities. You will find STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) programming, multicultural celebrations, and storytimes.
Tech Toys
Greensboro Public Library offers active and passive programming with Tech Toys, where youth can learn the basics of coding with Ozobots, try their hand at computer programming using Raspberry Pi, and explore circuitry with Makey Makey, Snap Circuits, or Squishy Circuits. Virtual Reality Viewers can be attached to a smartphone or tablet, allowing virtual travel through space or time. Most locations have 3D Pens for kids to write or draw 3D objects. Some libraries have 3D printers that the public can use to print items for a nominal fee.
Digital Resources for Kids
You can enter your Greensboro Public Library card number to access online resources. Current Guilford County School students can use their Student Identification Number by entering ‘GCS’ followed by the number, for example GCS123456.
Homework Help
- HelpNow is an online portal for live tutoring, writing labs, and digital collaboration centers.
- NC Live is a collection of online services selected for public and academic libraries across North Carolina. It includes magazine and newspaper articles, poetry, encyclopedias, and audiobooks.
- NCPedia has information about the state, history, people, government, and educational institutions.
- Transparent Language Online provides a fun, practical, and engaging experience for learners of all levels looking to build their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in a foreign language.
- LearningExpress has practice tests, interactive tutorials, and ebooks for students & adult learners. Includes practice tests such as GED, GRE, SAT, and TEAS, and supports those looking to improve core academic skills, pass a high school equivalency test, prepare for college, join the military, obtain occupational certification, find a job, change careers, become a U.S. citizen and much more.
Greensboro Library Resources for Elementary Ages
- Ask A Librarian – Get help 24/7 via e-mail, chat, phone, or in person.
- Brainfuse – HelpNow is an online portal for live tutoring, writing labs, and digital collaboration centers.
- NC Wise Owl – Elementary Zone features monthly topics, valuable resources, and more.
- Everyday Life In Guilford County in the Past is a bibliography of materials held in the North Carolina Collection at Central Library, designed with third-grade teachers in mind.
- North Carolina Weblinks lets you explore North Carolina through websites for selected fourth graders.
- Start Squad is an excellent resource for anyone seeking quality websites for kids. Sites were selected and organized by professionally trained librarians.
- APlus Math is an interactive site to help students improve their math skills.
Greensboro Library Resources for Teens
Teen Job & Career Resources – The Greensboro Public Library can help with career development and job search. Get free access to professional, powerful resources that can help you with everything from creating a résumé, preparing for an interview, researching careers, and searching for jobs. The dedicated Career Resources Librarian is available to connect you to valuable community resources and help you navigate Library resources to start your career.
College Prep – The road to higher education can be overwhelming. To make the process easier, the Public Library offers help preparing for the SAT, choosing a college, and finding ways to pay for tuition.
- Testing – Most schools will require you to submit a score from a standardized test such as the SAT or ACT. Preparing for these tests with study tools and testing tips will ensure that you do the best you can!
- Testing and Education Reference Center is a testing and education preparation resource that includes in-depth information on college, graduate, and professional programs, professional training, scholarships, and entrance tests alongside practice tests for entrance exams, certifications, and licensing exams.
- Financial Aid – Do not let the high cost of higher education keep you from pursuing your dream. There are many options available to those willing to search for them.
- Visit your local library for more information on preparing for college.
Health – You have good questions about your life and body. These sites will help you unravel some of the mysteries of life.
- Go Ask Alice has honest talk about health, sexuality, relationships, and fitness provided by Columbia University.
- Teens Health covers many teenage issues, including sex, mental health, drug abuse, infections, and diseases.
- Body Piercing – Learn the pros and cons of body piercing.
- A Platform for Good is a Family Online Safety Institute project designed to help parents, teachers, and teens connect, share, and do good online.
Public Athletic Fields – The Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department operates various athletic facilities, including tournament complexes, fields, tennis courts, and two specialized indoor sports facilities.
- Simkins Indoor Sports Pavilion – Houses four public courts for basketball and volleyball
- Greensboro Sportsplex – A multi-sports facility offering basketball, volleyball, soccer, hockey, and other sports programs
Start Smart – Greensboro Parks and Recreation offers Start Smart, a yearly youth sports program offering basketball, baseball, and flag football.
Start Smart was developed by top motor skills development specialists in youth sports. Parent-child groups perform motor skill tasks that gradually build confidence in children while they are having fun. Start Smart participants will develop proper motor skills without the threat of competition or the fear of getting hurt, which will allow them to enjoy and succeed in youth sports in the future.
Triad Moms on Main – A free, all-inclusive resource for parents that features daily blogs, directories, a detailed local events calendar, contests, and giveaways.
The website explores new topics daily – from finding the right school or summer camp for your child to showcasing local restaurants and birthday party venues. Triad Moms on Main focuses on the needs and interests of parents raising children in the Triad while hosting guest blogs from various viewpoints.
