Everyone, from your neighbor to the minivan-driving parent beside you in the school pick-up line, has an opinion about the flu shot. And more importantly, they’re not afraid to share it with you. The best protection against the flu virus is to get vaccinated in the fall. There is still a lot of misinformation about the flu and the flu shot out there.
Are you civic-minded and looking for a new volunteer opportunity? There is never a bad time to give back to your community — and you don’t have to work for your local government to do it. We often hear from residents on social media who want to lend a helping hand but don’t know where to start. Everyone is passionate about something! If you’re interested in supporting and supplementing the work that our staff is doing to make Mecklenburg County a great place to live, check out some of the opportunities we have for volunteers.
Comments Off on Small Acts Making a Big Difference: Volunteers Wanted
Written with assistance from Ryan Johnson with Land Use and Environmental Services Agency (LUESA)
Football season is in full swing and that means so is tailgating season. Let’s face it — what better way is there to spend the hours leading up to kickoff than by hanging out with friends while enjoying great food and drinks?
If we must say goodbye to summer by turning in our beach chairs and endless hours frolicking in the ocean, spending the weekends enjoying football and food sounds pretty great to us. But, there’s also the stark reality that at the end of every great tailgate there is often trash and recyclable material left behind.
If only there was a way to help limit that… ?
Comments Off on Lime Partnership Puts a New Spin on Recycling
There are a lot of things to love about living in the state of North Carolina, but something we love most is the weather. Even though we get some cold months where it’s better to stay inside, most of our year can be spent outdoors! Thanks to our Park and Rec department, we have a lot of opportunities to explore nature in Mecklenburg County. There are our parks, of course, but then there are also our greenways, nature preserves, and programs like mountain biking and sailing.
But let’s focus on our trails for a minute. When was the last time you went for a hike? With over 50 miles of paved trails and several nature preserves with trails, we have something for hikers of all levels. Here are some of our favorites that we encourage you to check out.
Comments Off on Trail and Error: Find the Best Local Hike for YOU!
Do you know the incredible feeling of crossing something off of your to-do list? I sure do. But, I also know that before you can start crossing things off, there’s often the task of figuring out who you should contact for assistance. There are a lot of things that we can help our residents with – half the battle is just figuring out what those things are. Let’s take a look at a few common services you as a Mecklenburg County resident may need (and who you can turn to for help with them).
Comments Off on Who Do I Call for That?
by Hannah Stutts, Grant Coordinator, Mecklenburg County Public Health
I don’t know about you, but when I’m driving around Charlotte (or stuck in traffic) I soak up everything about our beautiful city. New construction is everywhere, colorful lights paint the skies of uptown, trees and flowers decorate the sidewalks and buses with vibrant ads fill the streets – that’s right, I think the buses are beautiful, too. Especially the 30 buses that are rolling around with this PrEP ad on them.
Comments Off on Stay Sexy, Stay Healthy: What You Need to Know About HIV and PrEP
If you are like me, you love getting plenty of exercise while spending time outside. And what better way to achieve this than with a nice bike ride, stroll or run on one of our beautiful greenways?
Here in Mecklenburg County, we have more than 50 miles of paved trails, with more being added all the time. (View Park and Recreation’s greenway map)
No matter where you live, you are sure to be near a greenway entrance, allowing you to easily get out and enjoy the great outdoors. But before you lace up your shoes and head out the door, I would like to share some tips to help everyone have an enjoyable experience on the greenway.
Comments Off on Things to Know Before You Go To the Greenway
updated June 12, 2025
“Are there really any fish in there?”
That’s what a young passerby asked me, skeptically, as he temporarily paused during his jog around Freedom Park. I had just gotten myself comfortable in a fold-out camp chair and cast my line into the still water.
“Sure,” I responded – “Lots of them.” In a made-for-TV instant later, my line jerked down and I started reeling in what turned out to be a fine three-pound channel catfish, the largest one I’d ever caught at Freedom Park Lake.
Yes, there are fish in there!
Comments Off on Get Hooked on Fishing in Mecklenburg County