The Newtown Community-Led Master Plan had three objectives:

• Give voice to a historically underrepresented community
• Advocate for environmental justice
• Support the re-emergences of a diverse and vibrant community

Established in the early 1900s, Newtown is a historically black community that suffered injustice on several fronts, including environmental degradation through soil contamination and unmanaged urban flooding. Despite hardships, the community has survived and even thrived, primarily as a diaspora with a strong desire to return to the land and rebuild.

From the beginning, the master planning process did more than provide an opportunity for community input. The community took the lead in re-envisioning itself. Together, we mapped community resources, defined values and identified strategic goals focusing on five community pillars – culture, faith and community, health and wellness, economics and education.

The master plan emphasizes:

• Equitable communities – The master plan establishes a vibrant town square that creates an energy-filled destination, a health and education asset with the Newtown Loop that provides STEM learning opportunities along with walkable and bikeable trails. These opportunities include spaces intentionally designed to attract a wide array of businesses, promoting economic vibrancy and curating multiple cultural experiences. Together, they honor the legacy of Greenville’s historically black communities and highlight the rich creativity of artists of color.
• Restoration of Ecosystems – Proposed uses for brownfield clean-up sites have been mapped and communicated to SC DHEC to inform the cleanup plan.
• Design for Wellness – The community’s vision for a vibrant and healthy community with improved quality of life is part of the plan, with assets that specifically address health disparities.