Fresh renderings: Symphony Park construction starts this fall
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Symphony Park is roughly 7.4 acres at 4400 Sharon Road next to SouthPark Mall. Rendering: Courtesy of SouthPark Community Partners
Construction on SouthPark's Symphony Park is expected to begin this fall and will require a yearlong closure.
Why it matters: The popular park will undergo a a major overhaul. Once completed, it will go from hosting roughly 80 events annually to around 250, Adam Rhew, SouthPark Community Partners president and CEO tells Axios.
- Events will range from sunrise yoga with perhaps a dozen people to events with thousands of attendees.
The latest: Permits for the project were filed in June. After a few speed bumps — including the need for additional soil testing — pushed the start of construction to the fall, they're now "ready to really hit the gas," Rhew says.
By the numbers: The total cost of the expansion is still TBD, Rhew says, though it is expected to exceed the $21 million price tag initially projected.
- The city of Charlotte is providing $8 million. Simon Property Group — owner of SouthPark Mall and nearby Phillips Place — is contributing $8 million for two TBD anchor restaurants.
- $3.1 million of a targeted $5 million has come from private investors, Rhew says.
The big picture: Symphony Park's overhaul is part of the broader vision to make SouthPark a "park once" neighborhood. That goal also includes The Loop, a roughly 3-mile urban trail through SouthPark.
- Symphony Park's upgrades will include a 500-foot section of the trail. Outside of park renovations, the city of Charlotte is working on a roughly $3.625 million 0.2-mile section of the Loop near Cameron Valley Parkway and Carnegie Boulevard. The goal is to begin to piece together mile-long sections of the trail rather than a few hundred feet here and there, Rhew says.
- "Pedestrian connectivity signals to our neighbors, 'you are welcome here,'" Rhew says.
What they're saying: As a parent of young boys and a Charlotte native who grew up in SouthPark, Rhew can't wait to take his family to a renovated Symphony Park. His 6-year-old twin sons are particularly excited for the playground.
What's next: Symphony Park is expected to reopen next fall. Popular programming, such as SouthPark After 5, will be on hiatus until then. Once the park reopens, the goal is to prioritize free programming that's open to everyone, Rhew says.
Take a look at the latest renderings.
