Greenville's park system, which includes River Park North, is another reason newcomers are here
Myriah and Brian Shewchuk could easily be mistaken for lifelong Pirates fans.
The season-ticket holders are eager participants in the tailgate picnics that flourish before East Carolina University football games.
"Having lived primarily in larger northeastern cities‚ we were excited to be moving somewhere with such a sense of community‚" says Brian Shewchuk‚ who completed his post - doctoral fellowship in Philadelphia. "We like the size of things here and we enjoy a smaller college-town atmosphere."
When the Shewchuks decided to relocate to Greenville two years ago‚ Myriah had been working as a landscape architect in Atlantic City‚ N.J.‚ while Brian was doing research at the University of Pennsylvania. Now an associate professor at the Brody School of Medicine‚ Brian researches correlations between the human growth hormone with breast and prostate cancer. Myriah continues her career with Rivers and Associates‚ Inc. in downtown Greenville. She specializes in urban revitalization and environmental design.
"In terms of cost of living‚ especially compared to larger cities‚ Greenville is an amazing value‚" Brian Shewchuk says. "It's much more feasible to have a good lifestyle here."
Avid kayakers‚ the Shewchuks often paddle the backwaters of the Tar and Pamlico rivers or take the short drive to the coast for ocean kayaking. They're also regulars at the Pitt County Farmers Market on Saturday mornings and frequent downtown businesses throughout the week.
With a population of more than 72‚000‚ Greenville has officially become one of the fastest-growing areas in the state. As an increasing number of newcomers like the Shewchuks choose to call the area home‚ local officials are working hard to ensure that Greenville's Uptown central business district remains an anchor for the city's neighborhoods and suburbs.
According to Carl Rees‚ urban developer for the city of Greenville‚ many new projects are on tap to renew the city's historic business districts and nearby neighborhoods.
"We're doing a lot of work‚ particularly in the business districts‚ investing in projects like streetscaping. We're also dedicating funds for work in the College View Historic District in East Greenville and in the 13 neighborhoods that make up West Greenville‚" Rees says.
For Tyree Walker‚ chief human resources officer for University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina‚ improvements downtown and throughout the community make his job of recruiting new employees to work at one of the area's world-class medical facilities even easier.
"People are looking for a place with a strong economy‚ good schools and quality of life with cultural amenities and sports programs to enjoy. As a growing community‚ Greenville offers all of these things‚" says Walker‚ who also points to the city's low crime rate and diversity of residents as additional factors that draw newcomers to the area.
One of Walker's most recent recruits‚ Ken Turpen‚ moved to Greenville just six months ago from Silver Spring‚ Md.‚ and already feels right at home. Turpen‚ who is executive director of the Pitt Memorial Hospital Foundation‚ was impressed by Greenville's livability from his first visit to the area.
"This community offered me the best of both worlds.
I have a great organization to work for and the kind of family-oriented community I value. The quality of life is second to none‚" Turpen says.
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