Advocacy for More Parks and Recreation

Beth Poovey, President

Hi I am Beth Poovey, President of Partners for Parks. We are an all-volunteer board, from all over the County, several who are here with me, including Sean Langley who will speak next. Partners for Parks aims to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Mecklenburg County and the surrounding region by preserving, promoting and enhancing the parks, greenways, open spaces. We believe that parks build community and greenways connect communities. We think YOU have a really important job. You are the safe holders, the overseers, of a critical part of the urban infrastructure – the green infrastructure. Communities that thrive, are communities that understand the value that is created by investing in greenways and parks – they understand that the investment is not an “extra” They prioritize investing in buying land, building parks and greenways, keeping them looking great (because they are face of the community), and keeping them activated – These communities know that parks and greenways are critical in making our urban areas liveable, equitable, attractive to live in, safe to grow up in, places to keep our air and water healthy, our bodies and minds healthy. Places to learn, explore, discover. That investment is not optional. You are charged with understanding the importance of the infrastructure that breathes life into our community. You are charged with giving it the necessary funding to buy the land, to staff it with enough people to plan, operate and maintain it to a high level, and to build the system, the infrastructure. And you are charged with making it equitable to all our communities, all our residents, to have equitable access to high quality parks and greenways. We are hopeful that you will increase the budget, approve additional funds, help us continue to create a system with equitable access to this critical, green infrastructure.

Sean Langley, Board Member

Good Evening, My name is Sean Langley and I serve on the Partner for Parks Board alongside our President, Beth Poovey. I also serve as President of the McCrorey Heights Neighborhood Association located on the northwest edge of our city.

For the longest time, we have been advocating for greenway access to reconnect historically underserved communities to Uptown. Specifically, I’m referring to the Beatties Ford Corridor, which is home to some of our most important, historically black neighborhoods in our city.

Unfortunately, it’s not safe for me or my children to ride our bikes along Beatties Ford Road. It puts my children and I in danger and literally gives my daughter anxiety. This is why we’ve been advocating for a greenway along Andrill Terrace since I moved into McCrorey Heights 17 years ago. I know you can’t see Andrill Terrace, but it runs parallel to I-77. A greenway along Andrill Terrace would not only reconnect McCrorey Heights, but also Oaklawn Park and Lincoln Heights, and several other communities to Uptown. Additionally, this could give Johnson C. Smith University greenway access to Uptown as well.

Currently, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation has funded a study of this greenway. But I’m disappointed to learn that this greenway extension is not part of the CIP. With this greenway, we could reconnect communities, allow over a dozen kids in our neighborhood to be able to bike to school, improve the health and social well-being for many of our residents, and spur economic development along the Beatties Ford Road Corridor.

My plea to you is to find the funds to make this greenway connection possible.

Thank you for your time.