Greensboro makes downtown safety a priority as weather warms up
Mar 28, 2025
GREENBSORO, N.C. (WGHP) -- It was a beautiful day in downtown Greensboro on Friday, and people were out enjoying the weather and all that downtown has to offer.
But with warmer weather bringing residents and visitors to downtown, is it safe? FOX8 asked people downtown, and only a few people said
they wouldn’t go down there at night. The majority said they feel safe, and they are thankful that downtown Greensboro has turned into a safe and fun place to be.
It’s almost time for the rooftop to open at Pangea Bistro for the second season.
“It was very well accepted. A lot of people loved it,” said Juan Cirino, the owner of Pangea Bistro.
Downtown Greensboro continues to grow and change.
There are more steps to make safety a priority. Downtown ambassadors can be seen on the sidewalks at almost all hours of the day.
“I feel it took them a little bit of time to get where they are at today, but ... there is a process, but I am happy with them,” Cirino said.
For the first time this year, First Friday will close down two sections of Elm Street to traffic to create a safer space for pedestrians. Lewis Street to Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and McGee Street to Washington Street will temporarily shut down every first Friday from 2 p.m. until 8 a.m. on Saturday.
“Things are kind of crazy on first Friday ... We kind of tend to stay at home,” said Margaret Borrego, who lives in downtown Greensboro.
The Greensboro Police Department plans to add more cameras downtown.
“Cameras do provide a level of safety for people who are coming, whether it is people that are living in an area or people that are coming to visit, shop, live, work and play,” Greensboro City Manager Nathaniel “Trey” Davis said.
The cameras will be up in a few months, and city leaders are working to decide where exactly they will be placed.
“I think anything that we can do to improve our security is more than welcome,” Cirino said.
It all comes down to teamwork.
“I pretty much know every single restaurant owner or bar owner around town,” Cirino said.
Communication is the key to a safe downtown. ...read more read less
