29 massive public projects about to transform your local park

From Davidson to Steele Creek, 68 projects with a collective price tag of $130 million are underway and nearing completion in the next three years. Here’s a look at all of them that cost $1 million-plus.

Regional Sports Complex Phase 2

Cost: $25 million
Location: Matthews
Details: Expansion of the sports complex. Twelve new fields. Work is 10 percent done. More.
Estimated completion: October 2016

Aquatic Center renovation

Cost: $9.3 million
Location: Uptown
Details: This includes an expanded lobby, new family locker rooms, an expanded fitness area, new bleachers and completely renovated pools. The facility is already closed for the work.
Estimated completion: May 2016

First Ward Park

Cost: $8 million
Location: Uptown
Details: Four-acre park across from ImaginOn and one of the foundations of the redevelopment up there.
Estimated completion: November 2015

Latta Plantation Nature Reserve

Cost: $7.8 million
Location: Huntersville
Details: New nature center, new boat rental facility, new classrooms, new offices and expanded storage.
Estimated completion: December 2017

Stevens Creek Nature Preserve

Cost: $7.2 million
Location: Mint Hill
Details: This is going to be southeastern Mecklenburg County’s nature center, including trails and picnic areas. The project is still in the rezoning phase. More.
Estimated completion: April 2017

Queens University Tennis Complex

Cost: $5.3 million
Location: South Charlotte
Details: State of the art tennis complex by Marion Diehl Recreation Center. 13 tennis courts plus a championship court and lockers. More.
Estimated completion: TBD

Double Oaks Pool/Park

Cost: $4 million
Location: Just north of Uptown
Details: New outdoor aquatic center, including swim lanes, splash pool and water slide. More.
Estimated completion: July 2016

Hucks Road Community Park

Cost: $3.8 million
Location: North Charlotte
Details: 32-acre recreational open space undergoing master planning and improvements.
Estimated completion: Unknown

Little Sugar Creek Greenway

Cost: $3.1 million
Location: South Charlotte
Details: This is broken up into several smaller projects, but eventually will expand the popular trail from Tyvola Road to the South Carolina line (plus a little work on the Cordelia Park entrance). More.
Estimated completion: December 2018 for the last section

Bradford Regional Park

Cost: $3.1 million
Location: Huntersville
Details: Three new synthetic multi-purpose fields.
Estimated completion: Unknown

Winget Regional Park

Cost: $2.9 million
Location: Steele Creek
Details: Three softball fields, amphitheater, picnic sites, indoor shelter, restrooms and trails.
Estimated completion: TBD

McDowell Creek Greenway

Cost: $2.8 million
Location: Cornelius/Huntersville
Details: New greenway that will connect neighborhoods around Birkdale Village. More.
Estimated completion: October 2015

Abersham/Allison/Fisher Farm parks and West Branch Rocky River Greenway

Cost: $2.6 million
Location: Davidson
Details: Expand and extend the greenway through the park areas, plus new picnic facilities, a pedestrian bridge, restroom building and dog park. More.
Estimated completion: December 2016

Southwest Community Park

Cost: $2.6 million
Location: Southwest Charlotte
Details: Updated plans call for two pro-size ballfields plus a restroom building and outdoor play area.
Estimated completion: August 2016

Second Ward Gym

Cost: $2.5 million
Location: Uptown
Details: The county is turning the former schools site into a community center and museum. More.
Estimated completion: June 2016

Briar Creek Greenway

Cost: $2.4 million
Location: Eastover
Details: Extends the greenway about a mile between Randolph Road and Meadowbrook Lane. More.
Estimated completion: August 2016

Berewick Park

Cost: $2.2 million
Location: Western Mecklenburg County
Details: Two ballfields and a multi-purpose field. 85 percent done now. More.
Estimated completion: Imminent

Friendship Sportsplex

Cost: $2 million
Location: West Charlotte
Details: New park will have softball fields, a picnic shelter and playground equipment. This broke ground over the summer. More.
Estimated completion: April 2016

Barton Creek Greenway

Cost: $1.7 million
Location: University City
Details: Connects residential areas to nine miles of existing greenway. Land has been acquired for the 0.7-mile stretch and construction is set to start in February. More.
Estimated completion: July 2016

Irwin Creek Greenway

Cost: $1.6 million
Location: Wilmore
Details: Expand the greenway from West Boulevard to Remount Road
Estimated completion: August 2016

Holly Bend House

Cost: $1.5 million
Location: Mountain Island Lake
Details: Restoration of the historic house in preparation for public tours. More.
Estimated completion: October 2016

West Charlotte Rec Center

Cost: $1.5 million
Location: West Charlotte
Details: Renovation of the existing recreation center.
Estimated completion: August 2016

Hornet’s Nest Park shelter

Cost: $1.4 million
Location: North Charlotte
Details: New indoor multi-purpose shelter
Estimated completion: August 2016

Campbell Creek Greenway

Cost: $1.3 million
Location: Southeast Charlotte
Details: Expands the existing greenway by a mile at W.T. Harris Boulevard. More.
Estimated completion: August 2016

Cordelia Park shelter

Cost: $1.3 million
Location: NoDa
Details: New indoor shelter
Estimated completion: October 2016

Freedom Park improvements

Cost: $1.3 million
Location: South Charlotte
Details: Four new shelters
Estimated completion: September 2016

Long Creek Greenway

Cost: $1.2 million
Location: North Charlotte
Details: Phase 1 of this project will run from I-77 to the Target near Northlake Mall (about 3 miles). They’re having some issues with property acquisition.
Estimated completion: TBD

Jetton Regional Park Shelters

Cost: $1.1 million
Location: Cornelius
Details: The county is still figuring out the scope of this project.
Estimated completion: Unknown

Veterans Park shelter

Cost: $1.1 million
Location: Plaza Midwood
Details: Renovated indoor multi-purpose center and a standalone restroom building
Estimated completion: August 2016

(Photo credits: All photos are from the Agenda archives or Mecklenburg County government)