Spring Forward Into Two Updated Mecklenburg County Parks!

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department is kicking off Spring with an invitation to visit two parks with new and updated features!

Thereasea Clark Elder Park

Renovations at Thereasea Clark Elder Park include a NEW fitness area, picnic shelter, playground, and landscaping. Elder was a civic leader in Charlotte’s African American community, and the public health department’s first — and for years, only — African American nurse. She joined in 1962 after more than a dozen years of working at Good Samaritan Hospital, and until 1970, was only allowed to treat the county’s Black patients. She paved the way for others who followed, and went on to help many organizations become inclusive in the next several decades. “TC was a warrior for the African American community, and saw that Rockwell needed a park,” says James Williams, North Regional Park Manager with Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department. Elder advocated for years to promote the health and wellness of the Rockwell Church community with the neighborhood park that was renamed for her in 2013. The 16-acre park at 6315 Rockwell Church Road is a fitting tribute to a Charlotte native who graduated from Johnson C Smith University and served in the U.S. Nursing Corp, before completing her nursing degree and studying pediatrics at Howard University. The park now boasts new fitness stations, and a longer trail that extends around a popular multi-use field, in addition to a new playground, refurbished picnic shelter, landscaping, and improved grading and drainage around the basketball court. The renovations were finishing up just as word came about Elder’s passing in January, and reflect Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation’s commitment to equity, as outlined in its master plan, the Meck Playbook. Thereasea Clark Elder Park is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking is available on Rockwell Church Road.

Renaissance Park

Swinging south, check out even bigger changes at Renaissance Park off Tyvola Road. The longstanding park includes 145 acres of anything the “Renaissance” man, woman, child, or *pup* would like: golf, tennis, softball, bike trails, sand volleyball, disc golf, and now, a BRAND NEW skate park and dog park! “The original design was late 70’s and no longer functional because of settling,” explains Alex Rohleder, South Regional Park Manager with Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department, “so we had to come up with a plan to be sustainable.” The park is partially located on an old landfill site, which explains the settling. Two softball fields on that part of the park remain, while the rest are now home to the new sand volleyball courts and dog park. “We needed lit volleyball courts, and sand volleyball can be leveled if it settles,” explains Rohleder. “The remaining fields are now a dog park, because that’s perfect for land that settles.” In a “bright” move that uses infrastructure that’s already in place (and saves money!), the volleyball courts are brightened by the same lights that used to illuminate the old softball fields at night. “Lights are a premium amenity, needed to serve the community to the fullest,” says Rohleder. It made sense for Meck Park & Rec to reuse a valuable commodity they already had in place. The 5-acre dog park includes separate areas for big and small dogs, and watering stations for each. Benches and shade will be added to keep both pups & their human pals cool in the hot summer months. In addition, after a lot of discussion, research, and design, a skate park was added to the renovation plans by popular demand. The park is free and open to the public during park hours, and skaters will participate at their own risk (rules are posted). There is room for future expansion, too! The 2020 Mecklenburg County Park & Rec Greenway Master Plan includes an extension of the Big Sugar Creek Greenway north through Renaissance Park to connect with the Irwin Creek Greenway. Cyclists will love riding to the park to use its existing bike trails! “This project is funded and in the design phase,” says Partners for Parks Treasurer Al Brown. “It will be a wonderful addition to our Greenway System.” The park at 1200 West Tyvola Road opens at sunrise. The tennis court lights are on a timer that turns off at 10:30 p.m. So now that Spring is springing, get outdoors to check out these great new park additions!