With the start of a new school year, it seems like everything is new. Whether that’s a new backpack, new classes, or new teachers. We’re here to tell you that it’s OK to recycle things every now and then (literally). Let’s just make sure you’re recycling right! Here are a few tips to keep in mind at school and at home.
Continue ReadingBiking on trails is a healthy activity for everyone, from seasoned pros to kids just learning the ropes. With more than 70 miles of greenway trails to explore, it’s important to understand the unspoken rules that all new bikers and seasoned riders should remember.
So before you head out the door, here are some tips to help everyone have an enjoyable experience on our greenways.
Continue ReadingAre you an enthusiastic beginner or an experienced gardener? Either way, Mecklenburg County and its partners can help you grow your skills and passion in the garden.
Continue ReadingBefore you go there, this has nothing to do with what you normally think of when you think of bathing. Now follow me into the forest. (That wasn’t supposed to sound ominous, but I hear it now.) With Park and Recreation managing more than 8,200 acres of nature preserves, there’s a good chance there’s a forest near you just waiting for you to explore.
Continue ReadingMany of the products in your home can contain hazardous or toxic chemicals. Using or getting rid of these the wrong way can be dangerous for your health and the environment. Products with hazardous substances are labeled with words like “toxic,” “flammable,” or “corrosive.”
The average United States household creates about 30 pounds of hazardous waste yearly. That comes up to about 1.6 million tons in the U.S. every year. Take a look around your home and see if you can locate these items (and a few more). We’ll help you dispose of them properly!
Continue ReadingCooler weather brings cozy fires! There really is nothing better than sitting around a warm fire, roasting marshmallows, while bundled up in a thick blanket.
But before you light that fire pit, you need to understand the dos and don’ts of backyard burning. What better way to do that, than in song?
Continue ReadingEvery fall, nights grow longer and trees transform into bare skeletons. The witching hour brings eerie sounds from unknown creatures. But Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation nature centers are dispelling myths about nocturnal species and things that go bump in the night.
What do you know about the county’s native creatures that roam in the dark? Let’s look at four often-misunderstood species spotted at night.
Continue ReadingFor about 30 years, volunteers have hunted at Mecklenburg County nature preserves to manage the deer population.
It’s not recreation. It’s a science-based stewardship of local wildlife and the environment.
“We’re taking a biological approach to this,” said Christa Rogers, natural resources manager for Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. “We’re making the deer population healthier and making the vegetation and plant population healthier.”
Continue ReadingIf you’ve visited one of Mecklenburg County’s full-service recycling centers, you know we take electronics, household hazardous waste, yard waste and more. Now add foam, books and shredded paper to your in-person recycling drop-off list!
Continue ReadingAnywhere it rains, it can flood. However, there is one place where that’s actually a good thing: greenways.
Yep, you heard me correctly. Not only do greenways connect people and places as well as provide transportation and fitness opportunities, they also help reduce the risk of flooding for neighboring properties.
Continue ReadingType on the field below and hit Enter/Return to search