Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation

09/14/2026

Freedom Park's looking good just ahead of Festival in the Park, Charlotte NC!

We removed the fencing from the completed pond dredging project. The only park area still closed is the bandshell island due to wall repairs.

Just a few final touches are left before we welcome back festival attendees September 25-27.

And the blue water? It's an aquatic dye that helps control underwater weeds and algae by limiting the amount of sunlight getting through.

09/11/2026

25 years later, we remember.

Flags will be on display at Romare Bearden Park through the weekend. Volunteers will remove them Monday at 9 a.m.

📍 300 S Church Street, Charlotte

09/10/2026

Construction is coming along at Eastland Park.

We're building the 4.5-acre park in East Charlotte at the Eastland Yards development project.

Once complete, visitors can enjoy walking paths, a picnic area, playground, sprayground, restrooms, dog lounge, skateable elements, multi-purpose court, performance area, terraced lawn and play lawn.

We’re expecting work to be done in spring 2027.

Learn more at PublicInput.com/Eastland.

09/08/2026

Shuffletown Park is getting closer to the finish line. 🏁

The new playground is open! Our community partners teamed up and built most of it in one day.

More improvements are coming in 2027 and we’re hoping to stay open during construction, which starts later this year.

When complete, the surrounding community will see a new sprayground, skate park, and basketball court. Sign up for project updates and view the full plan at PublicInput.com/Shuffletown.

The park sits on the former site of the Shuffletown Dragway, a drag racing strip built in 1958.

The community build was coordinated by Cunningham Recreation with GameTime playground equipment and installation made possible through a major gift from Coca-Cola Consolidated, in partnership with Charlotte Motor Speedway, NASCAR, Partners For Parks, and The Coca-Cola Company.

📍9530 Bellhaven Boulevard, Charlotte

09/04/2026

All centers will be closed on Sept. 7. Parks, greenways, and nature preserves will be open. Outdoor pools and spraygrounds will be open — Labor Day is the last day to enjoy these amenities. Please note that the sprayground at First Ward Park will be closed Sept. 4-5 due to an event taking place.

Mecklenburg County offices and services will be closed for Labor Day on Monday, September 7: https://meck.co/4crg3Sx

09/03/2026

Nature at Night returns October 17! Who's coming? 🦉

Our annual festival transforms McDowell Nature Preserve into a celebration of all things nocturnal.

Enjoy animal encounters, crafts, night hikes, wagon rides, s'mores, popcorn, and interactive booths. Plus, food trucks will be on-site for meal purchases.

Tickets are $7; kids 2 and under attend free! This event sells out, so grab yours today: https://meck.co/4y7A1dC

📍15222 York Road, Charlotte

09/02/2026

We've got a few public meetings coming up soon. Details below!

Learn about projects coming to your area and sign up for updates at Engage.MeckNC.gov/MeckParkRec.

Grier Heights Park Improvements Information Session
- Tuesday, Sept. 8 (6-7:30 p.m.)
- At Grier Heights Community Center
📍3100 Leroy Street, Charlotte

South Prong Clarke Creek Greenway & Stream Restoration Meeting
- Wednesday, Sept. 9 (5:30-7:30 p.m.)
- At David B. Waymer Recreation Center
📍14008 Holbrooks Road, Huntersville

Mallard Creek Stream Restoration & Greenway Community Meeting
- Monday, Sept. 21 (5:30-7:30 p.m.)
- At University City Regional (Charlotte Mecklenburg Library)
📍5528 Waters Edge Village Drive, Charlotte

09/01/2026

Explore your relationship to the land and water with new public art on Long Creek Greenway.

“Connected” is a mirrored-surface sculpture that shows how water flows in the 50-mile region around the greenway. This system shapes and nourishes the land, manages stormwater, and provides recreation for the community.

The tiny green piece represents Long Creek.

🎨 Jason Klimoski and Lesley Chang (StudioKCA) | In partnership with the Arts & Science Council and the Public Art Commission

📍 7824 W W.T. Harris Boulevard, Charlotte

PROJECT UPDATE: Phases 1-3 of the Long Creek Greenway and Stream Improvement project are complete.

We expect Phase 3.5 to wrap up construction soon. The final phase will improve existing paths in Oak Hills Park (to be completed in early 2027) and add a parking lot at Oakdale Road, which should open this fall.

For information on the project, visit PublicInput.com/LongCreek.

08/28/2026

Let's get rolling! Bike lessons for kids are here for the fall.

Sign up for a private lesson or our group sessions: https://meck.co/4ghVoRY

Some opportunities will have bikes or helmets available on a limited basis, but for others you'll need to bring your own.

08/26/2026

Thanks for joining us for Hummingbird Week 2026!

We banded 20 ruby-throated hummingbirds and welcomed over 500 people to our nature centers.

Our local hummingbirds are getting ready to migrate south but leave up your feeders! Some stay into the fall.

📍 Reedy Creek Nature Center