I’m a discarded water bottle. Someone tossed me onto the ground at the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Revolution Park near Irwin Creek. I didn’t start in the creek, but when it started to rain, runoff took me there.
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This blog was updated on March 7, 2023.
Let’s face it: You can be five or 95…at any age, playing is fun. But, for some people, it’s much more.
Did you know that Mecklenburg County’s Park & Recreation department has Therapeutic and Inclusive Recreation Services? I didn’t – and I had to ask what it means. Here’s what I found out: recreational therapists use activities to help those with illnesses or disabling conditions participate fully and independently in chosen life pursuits and goals.
Continue ReadingIf you can never remember if it’s your week for recycling, you’re not alone. But we’ve got something that can help you with that. Nestled among the many cool resources brought to you by the Mecklenburg County Geospatial Information Services (GIS) is a little thing called the Geoportal.
Continue ReadingIf you’ve ever wondered where your Christmas tree goes when it leaves the curb, watch and learn!
Always recycle right. Crews won’t pick up artificial trees. They can’t be recycled and will end up in the landfill. Crews also won’t pick up live trees with lights or ornaments. For more information about composting and recycling, visit wipeoutwaste.com.
Looking to get fit in Mecklenburg County? We have you covered! With more than 50 miles of greenways, 20+ nature preserves with countless hiking trails and even an outdoor fitness area at First Ward Park, there are plenty of opportunities to get moving.
But what do you do when it’s cold, like today? Let’s face it, no one wants to go running, hiking or biking when it’s freezing outside. Luckily Park and Recreation offers plenty of indoor opportunities.
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After nearly 15 years as a human resources (HR) professional, Darcia Sanders had reached a plateau in her career. The opportunities for growth and development were unpromising. Her husband suggested they embrace the change of direction their life was taking, and explore opportunities in Charlotte. After some research, the “rich history, stability and endless possibilities” with the County made accepting an offer to work here an easy decision for her.
Continue ReadingUpdated September 2, 2022
Homeschool doesn’t just mean learning at home. One of the major benefits is flexibility about where and how your family can expand their minds! Mecklenburg County has a lot of resources for supplementing your child’s education. With 21 departments, there are endless ways to make Mecklenburg County a homeschool helper. Maybe you’ve seen our best kept secrets and that got your brain going. Well here are seven more options to get you started:
Continue ReadingWe’ve all heard the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” There’s a reason for that! Good nutrition is vital to good health and disease prevention. And it’s essential to “growing up big and strong” as my grandmother used to say. Eating nutritious foods (along with a little exercise, of course) can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Those are some of the leading causes of death in our County and the country.
Seems easy enough, right? If I eat healthy food, I will be healthier. But it’s not that simple. Not everyone has access to healthy food. I know! It’s hard to believe that in 2020, there are people in our community who don’t have access to a grocery store to get the foods they need to live healthy lives.
Reggie Singleton, one of Public Health’s policy coordinators, was inspired by the fruit tree orchards he grew up with in the Sea Islands of Charleston, SC. He suggested partnering with other community organizations to install orchards and a system for distributing the food to the communities with food insecurity. And the Edible Landscape Project was born!
With support and partnership from community organizations, Public Health and its partners have established multiple orchards across priority communities in Mecklenburg County. The orchards produce plums, figs, pears, peaches and persimmons. They have even expanded to plant seasonal herbs and vegetables like squash, string beans, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Neighbors harvest, process and distribute food to nearby community members directly or through the church food pantry. To date, their efforts have supplied fresh, nutritious food to over 25,000 people in the County. Here’s a look inside how the orchards work.
Earlier this year, the Edible Landscapes Project received a Best In Category award from the National Association of Counties. This project combined with farmers markets and healthy corner stores is helping communities get better access to healthy food.
A big thanks to our community partners for helping establish and nurture our Edible Landscapes: N.C. Cooperative Extension Service, TreesCharlotte, Village HeartBeat, Mecklenburg Extension Master Gardener, and The Males Place Inc.
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