Greensboro Voters Approve $11.5M for Parks
Voters narrowly backed parks bonds as Piedmont Land Conservancy moves to protect the 140-acre Guilford Woods near Guilford College.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in National Parks
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Greensboro voters approved $11.5 million in parks and recreation bonds during the midterm elections, narrowly passing the measure. The city is partnering with the nonprofit Piedmont Land Conservancy, which will use $4 million to help buy development rights to Guilford Woods.
Why it matters
The deal secures a historic forest that borders Guilford College's campus and was once part of the Underground Railroad, preserving open space for residents of Greensboro. It also shows how local bond funding can be combined with nonprofit land conservation to protect green space.
The parks bonds total $11.5 million, and Piedmont Land Conservancy is contributing $4 million toward development rights on the 140-acre Guilford Woods. The source does not report the total purchase price or how much of the woods will be acquired outright versus under easement.
The players
Piedmont Land Conservancy
A nonprofit land trust that works to conserve open space and natural areas in the Piedmont region of North Carolina.
Guilford College
A private liberal arts college in Greensboro, North Carolina, founded in 1837 by Quakers.
The details
Piedmont Land Conservancy will hold a conservation easement on the woods to ensure public access, while Guilford College retains ownership of the land. The woods contain hundreds of mature hardwood trees and border the college's campus.
Timeline
Nov. 3, 2026: Greensboro voters approve $11.5 million in parks and recreation bonds during the midterm elections.
Travel Outlook
Local conservation deals like the Guilford Woods easement follow a pattern of cities pairing voter-approved bonds with land trusts to protect urban forests. This model lets municipalities expand public green space without taking on full acquisition costs alone.
Visitors and residents planning a walk through Guilford Woods should expect the forest to remain open to the public under the conservation easement. Check with Guilford College or Piedmont Land Conservancy about trail access before visiting.
The takeaway
Protected urban forests like Guilford Woods show how public funding and nonprofit partnerships can keep green space available for future generations. Residents can support similar efforts by voting on local parks measures and supporting land trusts.
Further reading
For more on protected green space, explore National Parks coverage across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 88.5 WFDD.
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