New Park is Part of the Plan at Former Eastland Site
Don’t make picnic plans just yet, but a move from Charlotte City Council puts a brand new Eastside park one step closer to becoming a reality. Council members voted unanimously just this week to approve the transfer of 4.5 acres of the old Eastland Mall site to Mecklenburg County. That acreage will be used for a proposed public park.
According to the County’s website, the Eastland Park concept would include, two lawn areas (one artificial and one natural turf with terraced seating), walking trails, covered picnic and performance areas, a restroom, playground with hillside play, sprayground, a multi-purpose court area that can accommodate basketball, futsal, and hockey, skateable elements, seating, and landscaping.
“This is a significant step forward,” Council member-at-large Dimple Ajmera told Partners for Parks. “A public park is an integral part of the redevelopment of the Eastland site. It’ll address the dire need of open and green space in the area. Eastside residents have waited far too long, so Monday’s vote is part of delivering on our commitment.”
“I am thrilled the city, county and community are moving forward together to create Eastland Park,” added Councilwoman Marjorie Molina, who represents District 5. “This exciting project is a symbol of progress and renewal, and reflects the city’s commitment to creating spaces that enrich the lives of current and future generations.”
The new park is part of larger project on the site called Eastland Yards, an 80-acre mixed-use project in partnership with developer Crosland Southeast. Just last month, the City agreed to move forward with development on 29 acres of that property, and approved up to $30 million to reimburse expenses related to the project. According to the City; the development, temporarily dubbed ‘The Complex’, will feature sports and entertainment elements from two finalist proposals presented to the council earlier this year.
“This is a real life example of, ‘breathing new life into the community,’” said Partners for Parks Treasurer, Al Brown. “This partnership between the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and private developers will create an opportunity for everyone’s benefit.”
The Complex is expected to generate $169 million annually and create more than 500 jobs. The project is estimated to cost between $90 and $100 million, with construction expected to last for up to 38 months.
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New Greenway Connector Opens in Ballantyne
An area of Charlotte more renowned for its high-end shopping centers, sprawling office parks and exclusive neighborhoods is working hard to add community, walkability, and connectivity to the conversation. A brand-new greenway extension between Lower McAlpine Creek Greenway and Ballantyne Corporate Place on the Ballantyne campus is certainly a talking point in that discussion.
Mecklenburg County and Northwood Office representatives quite literally cut the ribbon on this greenway extension earlier this month. The joint greenway project by Northwood Office and Mecklenburg County is part of Ballantyne Reimagined, Northwood’s effort to create a more walkable, mixed-use community in this area of southern Mecklenburg County, per the County’s news release.
“We appreciate Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte’s investment in public infrastructure to support extending the greenway,” said John Barton, president of Northwood Office. “By working together, we’re excited to offer enhanced access for the community to enjoy all that Ballantyne has to offer while providing an easy way to connect with the greater greenway system.”
As part of Ballantyne Reimagined, visitors can now access the Ballantyne campus from the Lower McAlpine Creek, McMullen Creek and Four Mile Creek Greenways. The Northwood Office and Mecklenburg County joint project links Lower McAlpine Greenway to Ballantyne Corporate Place. This connection enhances accessibility to The Bowl at Ballantyne™, The Amp Ballantyne™, and the recently-opened six-acre Stream Park.
The connectivity to the area won’t end there. According to GoBallantyne.com, six new roads and several intersection upgrades are underway as part of the Ballantyne Reimagined development. Additionally, NCDOT is creating a direct connector to Johnston Road from the I-485 Express Lanes. The Ballantyne area is also part of the City of Charlotte’s 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan to bring three dedicated light rail stops here.
Ballantyne is also home to more than 100 acres of open green spaces, 20 parks and ponds, and more than 20 miles of walking paths and bike lanes to enjoy. Reimagined, indeed.
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Corridors Connect Events “Open” the Streets
Corridors Connect Events “Open” the Streets
In neighborhoods not known for large scale events, the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, Partners for Parks, and other friends helped host the Corridors Connect events throughout Charlotte neighborhoods.
For three consecutive October weekends, streets in Charlotte’s Corridors of Opportunity – which are often less-emphasized neighborhoods were home to six, unique Corridors Connect events. Parks, recreation centers, and the neighborhood streets themselves played center stage for line dancing, double-Dutch, live music, arts and crafts, food trucks and games. Each programmed site had a unique feel that reflected the culture and identity of the corridor; something neighbors emphasized in the planning process.
Walta Blackmon is the Corridors of Opportunity Program Manager for the City of Charlotte. She said the feedback she received from the community members in attendance was quite encouraging.
“I hope they reimagine public spaces as a social space and commit to reconnecting with neighbors by biking, walking, or playing outside,” added Blackmon. “I hope the connections that were made will foster relations within the communities that will last for years.”
Along with the opportunity to emphasize “active” participation with each other along the streets by walking, biking, and playing games, the events were also a vehicle to bring City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County services directly to the neighbors they serve.
“Overall I think the neighborhoods embraced the events just as we hoped they would,” said Jay Tryon, Superintendent of Community Relations with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. “This gave the neighborhoods an opportunity to embrace one another and enjoy the outdoors and learn about a variety of organizations… and the increase of awareness about our recreation centers.”
Tryon said connections made during the Corridors events led to the a new Monday pickleball group. Prior to the event, the attendees had never been to or heard of the Ivory Baker Recreation Center.
Opening up the streets to community members rather than cars is not a new idea. The original Open Streets 704 events pioneered the concept in Charlotte with larger scale, active, community-based events. Partners for Parks has been a part of the Open Streets team since the first-ever event in 2016.
“Participating in programming that fosters equitable access to parks, connectivity, and healthy communities is a natural fit for this organization,” said Beth Poovey, president of Partners for Parks. “Facilitating opportunities that give neighbors the chance or the reason to come outside and interact with one another … that’s community-building at its core.”
“The weather was nearly perfect all three weekends, the neighbors were delightful, and the folks who came out really seemed to enjoy themselves,” said Al Brown, Partners for Parks’ treasurer. “Connecting with each other in open, public spaces is central to our mission to, ‘breathe life into our community’.”
Monica Holmes, Corridors of Opportunity executive manager, described the events as, “multicultural, multigenerational and multilingual experiences for a diverse and fast-growing community.”
Holmes said these corridors are, “vital to the health of Charlotte’s communities, serving as links that connect people to the resources and businesses they need to live and thrive.”
That’s a message Blackmon hopes hits home with neighbors and visitors who attended the events, as well.
“I hope they leverage the city and county resources shared and connections made during the events… I hope they see the Corridors are open for business” she added, “and, I hope they see that regardless of where we lay our heads, we are all the same at the core.”
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Newly Opened Backlot Trail Connects SouthPark to Park Road
Newly Opened Backlot Trail Connects SouthPark to Park Road
Good things come to those who wait, they say; and neighbors in south Charlotte have waited some time to see this connection become a reality. A ribbon-cutting this week officially opened a greenway link between SouthPark and Park Road.
The first phase of the Backlot Trail is just a short one, but creates a huge link for nonmotorized connection in an area of town that’s near infamous for its lack of pedestrian access. The $2.5M project was paid for by the SouthPark Comprehensive Neighborhood Improvement Program (SouthPark CNIP), as part of the SouthPark CNIP Playbook, which prioritized area infrastructure investments.
The 0.3-mile-long, 10-foot-wide trail creates a connection between Park Road Park and McMullen Creek Greenway and also connects neighborhoods to the SouthPark activity center, Park Road Park, and the Cross Charlotte Trail (XCLT)/Little Sugar Creek Greenway. The project includes pedestrian crosswalks and traffic signals at Park Road and Park Drive South, along with wayfinding that guides residents to the SouthPark Loop and XCLT.
“This long-awaited project is the culmination of an idea from a SPAN board member for a trail that could connect SouthPark neighborhoods to the XCLT,” said Hillary Larsen, chair of the SouthPark Association of Neighborhoods (SPAN).
Mecklenburg County provided the property and will maintain the trail. The City of Charlotte provided for funding and construction. Additional sections of the Backlot Trail will eventually link to the southern portion of The Loop, connecting the XCLT to McMullen Creek Greenway near the Governor’s Square neighborhood off Carmel Road.
“This project was strongly endorsed by residents who voted to have it included in the SouthPark CNIP bond,” added Larsen. “Not only does the trail provide a safe way to access recreational amenities, but it also provides space that can be used for programming for area residents, employees and visitors to enjoy.”
North Carolina General Assembly Approves Historic Trails Investment
North Carolina General Assembly Approves Historic Trails Investment
Raleigh, NC (September 26, 2023) – The North Carolina General Assembly’s 2023-2025 budget passed last week invests $54.9 million to advance trail and greenway infrastructure in North Carolina. This funding investment comes during the 2023’s North Carolina Year of the Trail celebration, the largest celebration of outdoor recreation in American history. The campaign has reached more than 50 million people through events, earned media outreach, sponsorships, and advertising. Palmer McIntyre, Coordinator for the Great Trails State Coalition, says, “This historic budget investment brings better physical and mental health, more access to the outdoors for all people and economic development around trail investment. The Year of the Trail campaign has made it clear that everyone can benefit from trails. It’s a win-win proposition. We are deeply grateful to the North Carolina General Assembly and to all of our trail partners and sponsors who have worked so hard to build awareness and enthusiasm for trails across the entire state.” Partners for Parks supports the Year of the Trail and is a Non-Profit Member of the Great Trails State Coalition. This investment is the largest amount designated for trail land greenway projects in the state’s history. The budget creates:
- A new non-recurring $25 million trail and greenway funding program called the Great Trails State Program.
- It adds $5 million to the Complete the Trails Fund supporting authorized North Carolina State Trails. These are trails that cross country lines.
- It also directs nearly $25 million to specific trail and greenway projects across the state.
NEW: The Great Trails State Program The Great Trails State Program, funded with $12.5 million each year for two years, will be a competitive grant program for new trail development and extension of existing trails, including paved trails, greenways, and natural surface trails for biking, hiking, walking, equestrian use, and paddling. The fund will be administered by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR). Eligible applicants will include municipalities or counties, regional councils of government, other public authorities, and nonprofit organizations. Eligible uses for funds will include planning, design, and related environmental assessment or permitting, land and easement acquisition, trail construction, trail structures (such as bridges), trail amenities (such as trailhead parking, signage, etc.), and maintenance, and can be used as matching funds for federal or other non-state grants. The fund will require a minimum of a 25% flexible match, including cash, in-kind services, or donation of assets. Grants awarded will be limited to $500,000 per project.
Complete the Trails Fund Focuses on State Trails The budget adds $5 million to the Complete the Trails Fund which supports authorized State Trails. There are now 15 authorized state trails, up from 12 when the fund was originally created in 2021. Haw River, Saluda Grade Rail Trail, and an Equine State Trail were all authorized as State Trails this year. Much of the $5 million was allocated to specific State Trails, including $50,000 capacity building funding for each of the approved nonprofit partner organizations working on these State Trails. Specific Projects Funded The budget also allocates $24.9 million in non-recurring funds for specific trail and greenway projects across the state: $12,000,000 for to Conserving Carolina to fund continued development of the Saluda Grade Corridor Trail in Henderson and Polk Counties $4,000,000 to the Columbus Jobs Foundation, Inc. in Columbus County for a walkway and trail project and related capital improvements $2,500,000 to Camp Grier G5 Trail Collective for trail construction and related improvements at in the Grandfather Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest in McDowell, Burke, Caldwell, Avery, and Watauga counties. $2,000,000 to the City of Shelby in Cleveland County for Rails to Trails projects $2,000,000 to the Town of Blowing Rock in Watauga County for the Middle Fork Greenway $1,000,000 to Cleveland County Water for the Stagecoach Greenway Recreation Trail $535,000 for the Burke River Trail Association which covers eastern Burke County, and the towns of Drexel, Valdese, Rutherford College, Connelly Springs, Rhodhiss, Long View and Hildebran. $315,000 to the Town of Princeton in Johnston County for capital improvements including trail construction $250,000 to the Town of West Jefferson in Ashe County for a public hiking trail on Paddy Mountain $200,000 to the Friends of the Overmountain Victory Trail which covers 225 miles in North Carolina, including Rutherford, Burke, Caldwell, Wilkes, McDowell, Avery and Mitchell Counties $125,000 to the Town of McAdenville in Gaston County for the Carolina Thread Trail $40,000 to the Dan River Basin Association for capital improvements or equipment at the Chinqua-Penn Walking Trail in Reidsville in Rockingham County 
The 2023-2025 budget allocation provides critical support for projects offering lasting and impactful benefits to communities of all sizes, particularly rural communities. Trail investment provides safe places for healthy outdoor recreation, boosts tourism and grows the outdoor recreation economy. Trails are the backbone of North Carolina’s $11.8 billion annual outdoor recreation economy, bringing jobs and enhancing quality of life in communities across the state. The Great Trails State Coalition was formed in 2021 to advocate for public trail funding and execute the NC Year of the Trail. The organization will continue its advocacy in 2023-24 by launching the “North Carolina, the Great Trails State” brand. The coalition will host its first annual Great Trails State Day on Oct. 21, 2023 with the goal of trail activities in all 100 counties. About The Great Trails State Coalition: Representing 87 nonprofit, local government, and industry partners, the NC Great Trails State Coalition advocates for increased state investment in all types of trails statewide – hiking, paddle, mountain bike, equestrian, and paved trails. Each of our 100 North Carolina counties can enjoy the proven benefits of trails, including health, safety, economic development, tourism, transportation, and environment. The Coalition hosts the 2023 North Carolina Year of the Trail, a statewide campaign to promote awareness and celebrate trails across North Carolina. GreatTrailsStateCoalition.org and GreatTrailsNC.com
Five Great Hikes for Fall
Five Great Hikes for Fall
As we enter the final quarter of this “Year of the Trail,” it’s fair to say that Fall may be the best season to see many of the local trails and greenways. The good news is, the Charlotte area is loaded with great places to hike and explore! The hardest part is finding enough time to see them all before the last of the leaves turn. Here are five great hikes you’ll want to put on your list for Fall!
Little Sugar Creek Greenway
Now stretching from NoDa’s Cordelia Park and all the way to the South Carolina state line, this accessible, approachable greenway is a local favorite. If the reviews are any hint, visitors are pretty fond of it, too! It truly has something for everyone. Several newly-opened sections make car-free connectivity to nature, retail, and restaurants a reality. And for folks looking to log some quality miles with changing scenery, Little Sugar Creek Greenway won’t disappoint you, either. As part of the XCLT and Carolina Thread Trail, the Little Sugar Creek Greenway is a significant part of the area’s trail network.
Find out more here: https://parkandrec.mecknc.gov/Places-to-Visit/greenways
Whitewater Center
Home to 50-plus miles of trails for hiking, running, and mountain biking across 1300 acres, the Whitewater Center is worth the drive, and the $6 parking fee. The trails are challenging but doable, with spurs and options to make them downright difficult, if you so choose. The entire trail network centers around the world’s largest manmade whitewater river, a retail center and guide shop, plus food and beverage options that range from fast-casual to full-service. The Center also hosts races, festivals, film series, and other outdoor activities, year-round. Note: Check the website for trail status on rainy days!
Find out more here: https://center.whitewater.org
Photo: http://www.center.whitewater.org
Crowders Mountain State Park
Just a 30 miles west of Center City, you’ll feel like you’re a wilderness away from the hustle of city living at Crowders Mountain State Park. This park features two mountain peaks that pay off with spectacular views of Uptown Charlotte and the surrounding Piedmont. There are 20 miles of walking and hiking trails here, plus a visitors’ center at the main entrance, an outdoor classroom, picnic shelters, primitive camping, bouldering, rock climbing, and lots more. The Ridgeline Trail, opened in 2009, connects Crowders Mountain State Park in North Carolina and Kings Mountain State Park and the Kings Mountain National Military Park in South Carolina. Note: Try to get in early when the weather’s nice!
Find out more here: https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/crowders-mountain-state-park
Charlotte Rail Trail
Looking for a trail that’s little more urban but still full of adventure and discovery? The Charlotte Rail Trail may be just the ticket. This ribbon of opportunity parallels the light rail line from Uptown to South End, to Wilmore, Dilworth, Southside to Sedgefield. The 3.5 mile trail is a convenient connector for folks who live alongside the path. But most any day you’ll find walkers, urban hikers, inline skaters, bikes, dogs and more along the Charlotte Rail Trail. Whether it’s art, exercise, breweries, cafés, coffee, or a little retail therapy, you’ll find some of what you’re after here. And yes, this is where you’ll find the Instafamous “Magic Carpet Murals,” and the “Confetti Hearts Murals.”
Find out more here: http://www.charlotterailtrail.org
Photo: http://www.charlotterailtrail.org
McAlpine Creek Park Greenway
A Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation classic! Built in 1978, the McAlpine Creek Greenway is the first public greenway constructed in North Carolina's western Piedmont. A combination of wide, crushed gravel and paved paths and little to no elevation change, McAlpine is a favorite location for runners, walkers, hikers, dog walkers, parents and kids alike. Easy neighborhood access and trailheads with ample parking make McAlpine a year-round choice for logging some miles.
Nature lovers and the just plain curious will appreciate the variety of flora and fauna that call the creek home. The land around the trail also hosts Mecklenburg County's only population of a native Lakespur (Delphinium tricorne) a very rare, purple wildflower that blooms in the spring. You can also see the remains of the Lucas Family Grist Mill, a mill constructed in the early 1900s.
Find out more here: https://parkandrec.mecknc.gov/Places-to-Visit/greenways
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Corridors Connect Resurrects Open Streets Events
One of Charlotte’s most-popular community get-togethers returns this fall! The City’s Corridors of Opportunity program partners with Mecklenburg County to bring open streets programming back to six Charlotte neighborhoods in October.
The Corridors Connect series of events will feature shorter routes – and more of them – to provide even more opportunities for discovery and connection. The “Corridors Connect” brand borrows from the Corridors of Opportunity focus areas that will host all six routes. All events will run from 1pm – 5pm.
And in another new twist, the six events will be spread across three consecutive weekends in October. Event organizers feel it will provide more connectivity between neighbors and the City and County programs working to complement their quality of life.
“Our mission is to enhance community wellness through recreation opportunities, and this does just that,” said Jason Tryon, Superintendent of Community Recreation for Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. “This event series will… enhance six different communities, and bring awareness to what we do year around throughout the County.”
Partners for Parks has been a part of the Open Streets team since the first-ever event in 2016. Participating in programming that fosters equitable access to parks, connectivity, and healthy community is a natural fit.
“By routing the Corridors Connect through the communities’ existing assets, residents get to experience their local park, greenway, and school as a single connected network of public spaces that they can walk or roll around - with safe and comfortable separation from cars,” said Partners for Parks board member Emily Condon. “Partners for Parks believes that when biking and walking to public space is made accessible to neighbors of all ages, the community opens up.”
Unlike previous events that generally featured a mashup of commercial and residential districts, the Corridors Connect events will showcase mostly residential areas with more compact routes that also include neighborhood schools and parks. Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation staff will provide a variety of activities to serve all ages. Expect to see fitness classes, bike lessons, arts and crafts, sports clinics, and maybe even line dancing! Food, music, and other arts and entertainment programming is in the works, too.
Neighborhoods in Charlotte’s east and west corridors aren’t generally the focus of community engagement opportunities. Bringing open streets type programming into these Corridors of Opportunity is one way the city is working to invest equitably across the communities it serves.
“Like the original open streets events, Corridors Connect events will be unique, public opportunities focused on community health, connectivity, and civic engagement," said Walta Blackmon, Corridors of Opportunity Program Manager at the City of Charlotte. "These Corridors are vital to the health of Charlotte’s communities, serving as links that connect people to the resources and businesses they need to live and thrive.”
Connecting people in a, “healthful, carefree, and social atmosphere,” is a longstanding program goal for Open Streets 704. The Corridors Connect events continue that effort this fall.
“I believe these events are a great avenue to bring people together,” added Tryon. “I hope the residents of each corridor can meet new folks, learn about a new business or organization and have fun participating in an activity.”
Corridors Connect Open Streets Events:
- October 8: I-85/Sugar Creek Road and Albemarle Road/Central Avenue
- October 15: Beatties Ford Road/ Rozzelles Ferry Road and Graham Street/ North Tryon Street
- October 22: West Boulevard and Freedom Drive/Wilkinson Boulevard
For more information on the Corridors Connect Open Streets events, click here to visit the program website: https://openstreets704.com
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Longtime Partner Dr. Tony Zeiss Receives National Recognition
Dr. Tony Zeiss has been awarded the Medal of Honor by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR); the most prestigious honor bestowed by the DAR. The DAR Medal of Honor is given to an adult man or woman who has shown, “extraordinary qualities of leadership, trustworthiness, service, and patriotism.”
North Carolina State Regent, Anna Baird Choi, presented Dr. Zeiss with the award on Saturday, July 22th during the NC DAR District III meeting at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte.
“Dr. Tony Zeiss exemplifies leadership and service in our community,” said DAR Halifax Convention Chapter Regent, Catherine Bracey. “Dr. Zeiss has been the driving force behind the Trail of History. His work will ensure Charlotte’s rich history is captured for generations to learn.”
In describing the award, the DAR stated, “the recipient must have made unusual and lasting contributions to our American Heritage by truly giving of himself or herself to his or her community, state, country, and fellowman.”
“As you read the qualities that are recognized for this award, you’d think it was written as a description of Tony,” said Al Brown, Partners for Parks Board Treasurer. “Tony has not only been one of the founders of the Trail of History, but a wonderful partner in the planning and support of Little Sugar Creek Greenway, as well as a continuing Annual Sponsor of Partners for Parks.”
Dr. Zeiss was the first Executive Director of the Museum of the Bible, is President Emeritus of Central Piedmont Community College, and has served on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards. He has authored or co-authored several books on economic development, adult literacy, national workforce development, and American History.
Cross Charlotte Trail Continues to Make Connections
Piece by piece, the Cross Charlotte Trail – or XCLT, as it’s known – continues to come together. Over the last several years, the City and Mecklenburg County have worked on this system of interwoven trails and greenways, stretching over 30 miles. Upon completion, the Cross-Charlotte Trail will run from Pineville through Uptown, all the way to the UNC Charlotte campus and the Cabarrus County line.
A highly-visible and long-anticipated section from Brandywine Road behind Park Road Shopping Center to Tyvola Road officially opened with a ribbon-cutting event July 27th. The $26.5 million, 1.54 mile project completes Segment 2 of the XCLT.
The XCLT is one of Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s most pedestrian-centric projects yet. The trail itself is actually 11 separate and unique projects and a bicycle boulevard that will make up a continuous path. A reported 140,000 residents and 130,000 jobs and businesses are within walking distance of a trail entrance or connector.
"Fostering safe, efficient, connectivity throughout Charlotte and Mecklenburg County is an essential part of ensuring equitable access to parks and green spaces,” said Beth Poovey, Partners for Parks president. "The Cross-Charlotte Trail is an integral part of that connection.”
Charlotte regularly ranks near the bottom of lists rating larger cities for walkability and pedestrian-friendly or car-free infrastructure. Arguably, much progress has been made over recent years with additional stretches of greenway opening, sidewalk projects, the trolley line, and more bike lanes.
"Pockets of Charlotte are fairly walkable," Sustain Charlotte’s Meg Fencil told WFAE, "but most of those are areas close to uptown.”
The XCLT is a unique partnership between the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County toward achieving greater walkability county-wide.
"It fits into the City’s overall transportation vision," said Tabitha Warren, Senior Communications Specialist for the XCLT Project. "To connect people motor-free, car-free, to give them as many transportation options as possible. The XCLT is just one of the pieces of the puzzle with regard to offering those options.”
While you can join the journey from virtually anywhere in town, the XCLT technically "begins" along Park Road at the South Charlotte Connector. From there, the Connector joins McMullen Creek Greenway and Sugar Creek, before breaking for the completed Brandywine and North Davidson sections of the trail.
The latter sections of the trail will stretch from Matheson Avenue to Kempsford Drive, crossing through East Craighead Road and North Tryon and up to Mallard Creek on the way. These additions are scheduled for completion sometime in late 2028.
You can follow the project’s progress here: https://www.charlottenc.gov/Growth-and-Development/Projects/XCLT
