City Launches ‘Imagine Winston-Salem’ Survey to Shape Growth and Spending Priorities
Winston-Salem, NC – March 27, 2026 – City leaders are asking residents to weigh in on growth, infrastructure and budget priorities through a new community survey.
Winston-Salem is asking residents to help guide the city’s next chapter.
‘Imagine Winston-Salem’ Community Survey
A new community survey launched this week invites residents, business owners, and workers to share input on growth, infrastructure, housing, transportation, and public investment priorities. The effort is part of the city’s broader long-range planning work and is designed to gather early feedback before formal recommendations take shape.
City officials say the survey will help shape decisions tied to land use, economic development, and capital spending. Topics include how the city should manage new development, what types of housing are most needed, where infrastructure improvements should be prioritized, and how to balance growth with neighborhood character.
The outreach push comes as Winston-Salem continues to see steady redevelopment downtown and ongoing residential growth in surrounding areas. Planning staff are encouraging participation from longtime residents as well as newer arrivals, noting that population trends, workforce shifts, and housing costs are all influencing future policy decisions.
Why It Matters
Public input gathered now could influence future updates to zoning rules, transportation planning, parks investments, and economic development strategy. It may also inform how city leaders approach budget priorities in upcoming fiscal years, particularly as infrastructure demands and housing pressures grow.
Community engagement at the front end of planning processes has become increasingly important in Winston-Salem, especially as debates continue around density, affordability, and how public dollars should be allocated.
Residents can complete the survey online and are encouraged to share it with neighbors and colleagues. City leaders say additional engagement opportunities will follow later this year.
