Cynthia Harrison wanted people to see west Charlotte’s parks, and they did. Hundreds eager to get outdoors and play, take in art, and listen to music were drawn to Camp Greene Park Sunday, June 27, for Summerstock Charlotte. The bash was a refreshing summer treat after a stifling year.
“People have been wanting something like this to happen,” says Harrison, a westside community advocate and Executive Director of the nonprofit Health Empowerment Renewal (H.E.R.) The nonprofit’s mission is to promote healthy living by addressing conditions and physical environments that impact health. “We’ve been in our homes for a long time, especially with children. We wanted to make sure we could get out with our children.”
Harrison started planning Summerstock Charlotte in December before she even had a date circled on the calendar. She wanted to make sure the inaugural event would be safe after so many public events had to be canceled for COVID. As vaccination levels rose, COVID cases declined enough to go ahead with plans. The last weekend of June brought food trucks, artists, live performers, and an opportunity for kids to try out the new playground and explore the bike trail.
Harrison says she simply wanted to celebrate outdoor spaces on the west side of Charlotte, to let people know where to find them, and encourage them to return often with their families.
“We’ve never had a festival in a park, a way for our artists to showcase their work,” says Harrison. “So I thought, ‘Let’s bring this together.’ We can give them something to talk about — to know we can have something.”
Partners for Parks joined the party to show its support for a growing west side recreation scene and as part of its commitment to equity and access for all to local parks. Several Board Members pitched the Partners for Parks tent on the renovated basketball court funded through grants from Lowe’s Home Improvement and the Charlotte Hornets and facilitated by Partners for Parks.
“We are very much focused on the west side and creating more parks in those underserved communities,” says Al Brown, Treasurer of Partners for Parks. In addition to handing out jump ropes and frisbees — to the delight of many children — board members surveyed festival-goers about what they love about their parks, and what more they’d like to see. They’ll pass the suggestions on to Mecklenburg County’s Parks Director, Lee Jones.
“It was great to be out again,” added Brown. “We haven’t done anything since 2019. It’s great to get our message out and show the west side we’re there supporting them.”
Harrison, the leader of the event, is excited about the developing partnership with Partners for Parks.
“We’re talking about fundraising,” says Harrison. “I’m so excited that Partners for Parks listened. They see that there is a need, and by doing what they’re doing, that helps the community.”
Now that Camp Greene Park has a new playground and open space for kids to play, along with a nature trail and connection to the Stewart Creek Greenway, Harrison is looking into what else would be a good addition to the park. She’s thinking of an amphitheater for more live music, and better signs to let residents of the west side know the park is there and waiting for them.
“Lots of people said, ‘I didn’t know this was back here,’” says Harrison. “I believe because of this event, that people are willing to come back to this park again.”
