Like many downtowns, suburbanization wiped much of the life out of Greenville South Carolina’s downtown by the 1970s. Today it is a thriving, award-winning destination largely due to the 30-year leadership of Mayor Knox White. Why has it been so successful and what can other cities learn from its multi-layered strategies to attract people downtown and celebrate gathering at new iconic parks (including removing a four-lane highway bridge to do so?) 

Mayor White will explain and Michael Messner will lead a conversation with him about the impacts of downtown’s urban parks and placemaking on the rest of the city.

1:30 pm: Mayor White’s presentation 
2:15 pm: Conversation led by Michael Messner and Q&A
3-4 pm: Mixer