Jan 28, 2016

Freedom Park

South Charlotte boasts some lovely parks, great for people of all ages and equipped for a number of wonderful activities. If you want to take a hike through nature, ride your bike, or play one of a number of sports, South Charlotte has a park to suit your needs. You’ll even find a place to experience live music.

Symphony Park

Inside SouthPark is Symphony Park, where a large outdoor stage and seating area hosts a number of musical events throughout the year. Charlotte residents enjoy gathering at Symphony Park for music festivals. The surrounding grounds are also a beautiful place for a tranquil walk, whether you’re visiting for a specific event or simply want to enjoy the scenery. When driving your Mazda there for an event, make sure to arrive early to get good parking.

Freedom Park

This 98-acre park has four baseball fields, batting cages, tennis courts, soccer fields, and basketball courts. It’s a wonderful place to come and practice sports for kids and adults alike. There’s also a concession stand, a lake, and two playgrounds. If you’re interested in visiting nature, walking and biking trails also wind through the foliage and present a beautiful landscape.

McMullen and Lower McAlpine Creek Greenway

The county has expended considerable effort and funds into turning Charlotte’s parks into beautiful, green spaces that the city’s residents can be proud of, and this effort is especially obvious in McMullen and Lower McAlpine Creek Greenway. The McMullen Creek Greenway is a fantastic place to see native wildlife like owls, snakes, and woodpeckers. The park is open during daylight hours, and has biking and walking trails for family enjoyment. It may not have some of the sports amenities the other parks offer, but this is a wonderful place to engage with nature.

Park Road Park

This 72-acre urban park has lighted tennis courts, horseshoe pits, basketball courts, baseball and softball fields, volleyball courts, and picnic shelters. It also has extensive walking trails, an 11-acre lake with a pier, and a playground. It’s open until 10:30 p.m. in the summer and 9 p.m. during winter. Visit during the day for some fun sports, or come at night with your picnic gear for some great grilling and s’mores.

Carmel Road Park

This small park offers a more intimate setting than the large urban parks, with lots of courts and fields. Carmel Road Park is only 10 acres, but it has good amenities and is a quieter setting if you’d like some tranquility or potential privacy. Enjoy multipurpose fields, a basketball court, two tennis courts, a softball field, a playground, and picnic shelters. The small playground is good for younger children, especially when parents want to keep an eye on them.

Drive to any of these parks during Charlotte’s beautiful spring, summer, and fall weather for a lovely day of leisure and fun. Check out events at Symphony Park, view the wildlife at McMullen Creek Greenway, or get in some cardio at Freedom Park. Whatever you choose, you’re sure to enjoy this city.