Affordable Housing and Neighborhoods

• $3.75 million is proposed for affordable housing pending legislative action.
• Through the Neighborhood Infrastructure Bond, $19 million is proposed for paving, traffic calming, sidewalks, and pedestrian safety, plus community center improvements — $1.8 million for Nicholtown Community Center upgrades and ~$7 million for sidewalks.

Recreation and Open Space

• $3.4 million is proposed for an inclusive playground at Cleveland Park, and court rehabilitation and pickleball at Gower Park.
• $750,000 is proposed for the “design and feasibility” of a pump track and skate park, as are funds to support Arts in Public Places and new events (think: Greenville Jazz Fest).
• $500,000 is listed for purchasing land to preserve open space — a priority of the GVL2040.

Public Safety

• In anticipation of the Greenville Police Department and Greenville Fire Department moving into the city’s new Public Safety Complex, the budget proposes adding 10 GPD officers and five GFD positions.

Economic Development

• $1.5 million is proposed for implementing the city’s Strategic Plan — from accelerating entrepreneurship to adding staff.
• Filling empty office space is also a focus, with $250,000 listed for an Office Vacancy Strategy.

Mobility

• Improvements like traffic management technology, more funding for Greenlink Transit Authority, and connections from neighborhoods to the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail are budgeted for — $12 million for roads, bridges and traffic calming and $2.7 million for greenways, trails, bike, and pedestrian safety enhancements.

What’s next?

• City Council will attend another budget workshop on Monday, May 8 before the full budget and a first reading of the ordinance is presented in a public hearing on Monday, May 22. A vote for adoption of the ordinance will take place Monday, June 12.

• Project Host Fill the Cruisers Food Drive | Tuesday, Apr. 18 | 8 a.m.-1 p.m. | Bon Secours Wellness Arena, 650 N. Academy St., Greenville | Free | Help fill GPD police cruisers with food items for the Project Host Soup Kitchen by dropping off donations outside of the GSP International Airport Box Office at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
• Tai Chi and Find Your Zen | Tuesday, Apr. 18 | 6:15-7:15 p.m. | SE Center for Photography, 116 E. Broad St., Greenville | $15 | Learn a variety of movements and meditation practices — no experience or mat required.

• Greenville Triumph vs. Fuego FC | Wednesday, Apr. 19 | 7:30 p.m. | Paladin Stadium, 900 Duncan Chapel Rd., Greenville | $15-$60 | Watch the Greenville Triumph face off against Central Valley Fuego FC on the home pitch.
• Yoga in the Park | Wednesday, Apr. 19 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Paris Mountain State Park, 2401 State Park Rd., Greenville | $10 | BYO mat and enjoy an evening of yoga in the field by Pavilion 3 — registration required.
• Salsa Dance Class | Wednesday, Apr. 19 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Dance United, 580 Woodruff Rd., Greenville | $15 | Learn to dance Salsa with or without a partner — beginner and intermediate classes are available.

• Project Host Plant Sale | Thursday, Apr. 20-Friday, Apr. 21 | Times vary | Project Host, 525 S. Academy St., Greenville | You can support Project Host’s Gardening for Good program by shopping for a variety of plants, flowers, and vegetables.
• Foot Solutions Greenville County Smash Pickleball Tournament | Thursday, Apr. 20-Sunday, Apr. 23 | Times vary | Southside Park, 417 Baldwin Rd., Greenville | $0-$45 | Catch this Upstate pickleball tournament and take part in free clinics and demos.
• Culinary Concert | Thursday, Apr. 20 | 6 p.m. | Greenbrier Farms, 766 Hester Store Rd., Greenville | $175-$1,500 | Join Mill Village Farms for a spring soiree featuring craft cocktails, live music, and culinary tastings with wine — proceeds benefit Mill Village Farms’ urban gardening efforts.

• 17th Annual Dragon Boat Upstate Festival | Saturday, May 6 | 8:30 a.m. | Portman Marina, 1629 Marina Rd., Anderson | Help paddle a specially-designed Dragon Boat to raise money for the Prisma Health Cancer Institute, or volunteer to help make the festival a success.

• Wednesday, April 19 | 1-6 p.m.
• Thursday, May 25 | 12-5 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 14 | 12-6 p.m.
• Friday, July 21 | 12-6 p.m.
• Thursday, August 17 | 12-6 p.m.
• Friday, August 25 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Get your boots ready, GVL. The Greenville Country Music Fest lineup is live. Headliners for the three-day festival — Oct. 20-22 at Simpsonville’s CCNB Amphitheatre — include Cody Johnson, Brooks & Dunn, Bailey Zimmerman, Midland, and Travis Tritt. Follow the Fest on social media for updates on when ticket sales go live.

• The City of Mauldin sold 6.5 acres for $1.15 million to the Parker Group and Longbranch Development. The property in downtown Mauldin (at the the corner of Jenkins Street and Jenkins Court) will become Maverick Yards, a multi-use development with restaurants, pickleball courts, and businesses. (Upstate Business Journal)

• $22 million. That’s the listing price on a 54-acre Simpsonville estate — currently the most expensive home in SC. Listed by Damian Hall of Blackstream Christie’s International Real Estate and featured in the Wall Street Journal, the equestrian property is home to six horses, a kangaroo, and a 16,000-sqft home, built in 2014.

• Work by local artist Glory Day Loflin was featured on episode two — “Happy To Bring Color To Chaos” — of Magnolia Network’s show, “Happy To Be Home with the Benkos.” The episode features a colorful renovation on a historic home in Summerville, SC.

• Furman women’s tennis caused a racket last weekend after defeating ETSU 4-3 and earning the Southern Conference regular season title — the Paladins’ seventh straight title and Furman’s 26th overall. No. 1 seed Furman will play No. 8 UNCG Thursday, April 20 at 1 p.m. in the opening round of the conference championships.

• Freecoat Nails on Augusta Road is hosting a customer appreciation event on Thursday, April 20 from 5-8 p.m. Enjoy wine and cheese from The Cheese Wheel while shopping with Clover Boutique, Sarah Farrar Fine Art, and Make Made Jewelry. Raffles will benefit Greenville’s Gift. Bring baby pajamas or $10 for admission.
• This wedding season make sure to shower the happy couple with the perfect gift. Our online store (Six & Main) features presents such as dinner napkins by Willow Ship and celebratory cards by Joy Paper Co. Start shopping.

• The next Ville to Ville Craft Brew Relay — a 72-mile running event from Asheville to Greenville through craft breweries and the Appalachian Mountain foothills — takes place Saturday, April 13, 2024. While the race is currently sold out, you can try to secure a spot for you and your team on the waitlist.

• Love playing pickleball? This episode of MUSC Health’s Health Focus features Dr. Alec DeCastro, Associate Professor and Chief of Primary Care Sports Medicine, discussing common pickleball injuries and tips for prevention, so you can stay on your A-game.*

• This Thursday’s installment of Downtown Alive will feature rock band WhoAmI?, a duo of musicians hailing from Greenville and New York. Head to Main St. from 5:30-8:30 p.m. to enjoy live music, cold drinks, and local art presented by the Metropolitan Arts Council. Bonus: Admission is free.*

• The YMCA of Greenville has been awarded Praesidium Accreditation® by Praesidium, the leader in abuse risk management. This prestigious honor publicly demonstrates the organization has worked to achieve the highest industry standards in abuse prevention. The YMCA of Greenville is the first YMCA in the nation to achieve this.*

• Looking for a fun, educational, and play-filled summer camp experience for your child? Each camp day at TCMU-Greenville is infused with STEAM-based learning and museum exploration for rising Pre-K to 5th grade learners. Bonus: Caregivers can book morning or afternoon half-day camp or full-day camp. Learn more and register.*

• What trip would be worth leaving Greenville? For City Editor Kyle, it’s New Zealand — to take the ultimate road trip by camper van. Sign up for Going to get notified when flight prices drop so you can book your dream trip and feel great about it. Join for free.

• “MJ The Musical” | Sept. 19-24
• “Funny Girl” | Oct. 31-Nov. 5
• “The Wiz” | Nov. 21-26
• “Company” | Jan. 23-28, 2024
• “Girl From The North Country” | Feb. 6-11, 2024
• “Tina — The Tina Turner Musical” | March 19-24, 2024
• “Clue” | April 16-21, 2024
• “Peter Pan” | April 23-28, 2024
• “Mrs. Doubtfire” | May 7-12, 2024
• “Mamma Mia!” | June 4-9, 2024