A New Year Brings New Parks, A New Museum, Miles of Greenways and More
Happy new year! Mecklenburg County’s fiscal year kicks off every July. So, what better time to take stock, look forward to the year ahead, and reflect on the successes of the past?
The County is focused on reinvesting in existing Park and Recreation facilities – taking care of what we already have – as well as building new features for residents to enjoy. Within the next year or so, residents and visitors to Mecklenburg County may enjoy two new parks, seven renovated parks, a new museum, a reopened recreation center and skate park, nearly 4 miles of additional greenways and much more. That’s not to mention all the greenways, parks and other facilities that have opened in the last year and are waiting to be explored.
Is something new coming to or already available in your neighborhood? Let’s find out by breaking down some of Park and Recreation’s completed or soon-to-be completed projects. As with all construction projects, some delays and repairs may occur due to weather and other circumstances.
Projects At a Glance
Now open
- Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center: This recreation center in Enderly Park reopened within the last fiscal year after renovations. It features a new play area with inclusive and accessible playgrounds and paths. The center also has an outdoor story path for readers of all ages to enjoy.
- Cherry Park: Neighbors can walk to this park in the Cherry neighborhood and enjoy new paths, a renovated baseball field, a renovated full basketball court, a new playground with swings, a new shelter, and fresh plantings. The project was built in partnership with the Charlotte Department of Transporation and includes new roadway crossings to improve access to the park.
- Liz Hair Trail: This segment of Little Sugar Creek Greenway from East Morehead Street to East Boulevard, known as the Liz Hair Trail, runs near Atrium Health’s Carolinas Medical Center campus. Improvements included a widened greenway, better access points, and bridges.
- Stewart Creek Greenway: Mecklenburg County constructed 1.5 miles of greenway in the Lakeview and Seversville neighborhoods. The County worked with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services to construct a stormwater control measure (a device that removes pollutants from stormwater runoff) and to reduce erosion and sediment along 0.5 miles of streams adjacent to the greenway.
Coming soon
- L.C. Coleman Park: At this 11-acre park in Washington Heights, the County is relocating and improving the park’s playground and shelter, and adding walking trails, improved neighborhood connections and interpretive signage. The County is using $2 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to fund the improvements.
Ready to enjoy
- Eastway Regional Recreation Center: In the past year, Eastway Regional Recreation Center added a playground, pickleball courts, a basketball court, a paved loop trail, and an outdoor shelter.
Coming soon
- Albemarle Road Park: Renovations to this 21-acre park in the Idlewild Farms neighborhood will include a new picnic shelter, a playground, a half basketball court, a boardwalk, parking, and walking trails.
- Harrisburg Road Park: Renovations to the Harrisburg Road Park will include a new shelter, walking trails, benches and a playground, as well as improvements to the full basketball court and parking.
Ready to enjoy
- Druid Hills Park: Mecklenburg County completed improvements at Druid Hills Park in the last year, including walking trails, new community gardens, multiple picnic shelters, public Wi-Fi, a playground, a stage and picnic shelter with restrooms, and native plantings. A full basketball court is also available, courtesy of the Charlotte Hornets and Lowe’s Home Improvement.
- Mallard Creek Recreation Center: Residents can now check out Mallard Creek Recreation Center’s upgrades, including a new lobby, playground, fitness center, multipurpose rooms, walking track, fields, and more.
- Reedy Creek Greenway: 2.5 miles of trail are now open from Grier Road to Plaza Road Extension. The greenway runs through Reedy Creek Park and along Reedy Creek Nature Preserve with connections to adjacent neighborhoods and schools.
Coming soon
- Viewmont Park: This roughly 11-acre park in Charlotte’s Eastway neighborhood is being renovated to include a new shelter, playground, walking trails, and fitness equipment.
- Cross Charlotte Trail: The City of Charlotte is building a new segment of the Cross Charlotte Trail through the Hidden Valley neighborhood from approximately North Tryon Street to Orr Road. The trail will connect to the broader area bicycle and pedestrian network as well as to the LYNX Blue Line. The City is also building four other segments of the Cross Charlotte Trail that will open in the next few years.
Ready to enjoy
- Eva B. Barber Park: In the Thomasboro-Hoskins neighborhood, Eva B. Barber Park now features a new inclusive playground, an accessible shelter, and pathways connecting the park amenities. The park also received new trees in partnership with TreesCharlotte.
- Fred D. Alexander Park: Check out all the amenities now available at this Firestone-Garden Park neighborhood park. Residents can enjoy the pump track for bikes, a loop for walking and cycling, a new playground, fitness equipment, game tables, half and full basketball courts, a community garden and a covered picnic shelter.
- Long Creek Greenway: 1.5 miles of new paved greenway trail, from Interstate 485 to Oakdale Road, are now open. The segment connects to Primm Road and Oakdale Road. More than 2 miles of stream have been improved by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services. A parking lot at Oakdale Road is planned to open later this year.
Now open
- Briar Creek – Little Hope Creek Greenway: 1.1-miles of new greenway trail is open near Marion Diehl Park and the Cross Charlotte Trail. One greenway segment starts at Keystone Court, moves southeast through Marion Diehl Park, then along Little Hope Creek, to the Little Sugar Creek Greenway/Cross Charlotte Trail north of Tyvola Road. A second segment starts from Little Sugar Creek Greenway/Cross Charlotte Trail, and moves northeast along Briar Creek, ending at Manning Drive.
- Knights View Recreation Center: Located next to Knights View Elementary School, this newly opened recreation center in the Provincetown neighborhood features programs and open gym play.
Coming soon
- Charlotte Museum of Nature: The new Charlotte Museum of Nature, formerly Discovery Place Nature, will be a world-class nature haven and museum. The museum will feature nature trails, outdoor experiences, wildlife habitats, interactive exhibits and a hands-on naturalist lab. It will also integrate with the surrounding Freedom Park through public gardens and community spaces. This project is a partnership of Mecklenburg County and the nonprofit Discovery Place.
- McAlpine Creek Greenway, Johnston Road to Pineville-Matthews Road: A new 1.1-mile segment will extend the 6.5-mile network of McAlpine Creek, McMullen Creek, and Four Mile Creek greenways. The project includes a new parking lot at the trailhead off Pineville-Matthews Road, and pedestrian connections to Ryder Avenue, Pineville-Matthews Road, and the Johnston Road parking lot. It is being built in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
- Park Road Park: A new, 4,500-square-foot indoor pavilion is under construction on the peninsula overlooking the pond at Park Road Park. The facility will be available for special events, public meetings, and classes. It will feature a lobby space with restrooms, a catering kitchen and storage space. Outdoor amenities will include an elevated terrace for gatherings, an outdoor classroom, accessible restrooms and improved parking. The pond at Park Road Park is currently being dredged to improve water quality.
Coming soon
- Monroe Road Park: A new 12.2-acre neighborhood park at 5715 Monroe Road will include a playground, a picnic shelter with a grill, fitness equipment, a play meadow, walking trails and other amenities. The park is being developed in partnership with Mecklenburg County Solid Waste and Recycling and will include a new recycling center.
- Naomi Drenan Recreation Center and Grayson Park: Naomi Drenan Recreation Center and Grayson Park in the Wendover-Sedgewood neighborhood have been closed for renovations. Once they reopen this fiscal year, residents will enjoy the center’s new lobby, restrooms and lockers, a multipurpose room, offices, as well as new building systems. The park improvements will include a renovated skate park, basketball courts, and a new playground.
Coming soon
- Archdale Park: In the Montclaire South neighborhood, Mecklenburg County is using $4 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to improve existing amenities and add new amenities at the 16.6-acre Archdale Park. Improvements will include a relocated basketball court, new half-court basketball court, two picnic shelters, a new playground, a misting ground, fitness equipment, a parking area, walking trails and a multipurpose field.
- Walker Branch Greenway: This 0.9-mile new segment of the Walker Branch Greenway will start at Sledge Road, run south along Steele Creek Road, and connect to an existing greenway at South Tryon Street near the Steele Creek Crossing shopping center.
- Hoover Creek Greenway: The current Hoover Creek Greenway, which sits south of the Shops at Rivergate South and starts at Steele Creek Road, will be extended 0.5 miles east along Hoover Creek, south of Rivergate Shopping Center, to Rivergate Parkway and the existing Walker Branch Greenway.
Ready to enjoy
- Paw Creek Greenway: Now open, the 1.5-mile stretch of Paw Creek Greenway from Little Rock Road to Paw Village Road connects Robert L. Smith Park to the surrounding neighborhoods. The County also plans to add pickleball courts at Robert L. Smith Park.
Ready to enjoy
- Caldwell Station Tributary Greenway: This new 1-mile greenway connects the Caldwell Station Creek Greenway to Northern Regional Recreation Center.
Ready to enjoy
- McDowell Creek Greenway: 0.7 miles of main trail and 0.3 miles of connecting trails between Gilead Road and Chilgrove Lane in Huntersville were built as part of a larger network of trails that will reach from the Cornelius to Huntersville. When complete, this network will connect greenway users to neighborhoods, shopping, and other amenities.
Coming soon
- Colonel Francis Beatty Park: Improvements to the Colonel Francis Beatty Park baseball complex will include a new baseball field, lighting, turf, and irrigation. Beyond the baseball complex, the park will feature new pickleball courts, new bicycle and pedestrian connections, expanded and repaired paved trails, and improvements to wayfinding signs, parking, and restrooms.
Coming soon
- Ezell Park: Mecklenburg County is building a new park in Mint Hill at the corner of Matthews-Mint Hill Road and Mintwood Drive. The park will feature a full basketball court, four pickleball courts, a splash pad, a playground, a community garden, trails, an open-play field, public art, restrooms, and parking.