Before 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 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 ReadingIt’s August. Summer camps are over. School hasn’t yet started. The weather outside is still fine, and the family is antsy for outdoor activity to help fill the gap. Enter: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation’s Hummingbird Week.
Continue ReadingWritten with Elizabeth Stuart, Senior Administrative Support, Historic Landmarks Commission
Historic preservation helps tell the present the story of the past. Literally. When we preserve a landmark, we help save the story it holds. I mean, what’s cooler than being able to SEE history?
Historic preservation preserves, conserves and protects buildings, objects, landscapes or other places with historical significance. Since 1973, our Historic Landmarks Commission has preserved more than 360 landmarks in the County! Here are five facts you might not know about historic preservation.
Continue ReadingJust sit right back and you’ll hear a tale,
a tale of a fateful trip.
“Gilligan’s Island” Theme Song
Maybe you can’t afford a trip to a tropical island but there’s an island right here in Mecklenburg County THAT YOU CAN RENT. Color me surprised, too! And you won’t get lost there if you go on a three-hour tour. (That’s a “Gilligan’s Island” reference.) Here’s what you need to know about Copperhead Island before your next event.
Continue ReadingLet’s all take a moment to slowwwww down. Some of the best places to do that in Mecklenburg County are free. Today, we’re going to focus on our Park and Recreation nature preserves. The County manages more than 7,600 acres of nature preserves, protecting our natural resources. If you’ve never been to one, you’re missing out, but we’re going to give you a little preview.
Continue ReadingGet it? Latta, a lotta?
The real story is not about my bad pun but how many fun activities there are available at Latta Nature Preserve in Huntersville. It’s actually one of my favorite nature preserves in the County. Warning: Siri or Google Maps may try to trick you. When you get there, you want to go through the big gate, not the private drive.
Continue ReadingWildlife. We all play a role in its preservation and protection. And sometimes that means protecting things we may not be really crazy about. Can you think of an animal or insect you’d rather not come across on one of our trails? For me, there are a few. But, there’s one answer we hear a lot: SNAKES!
Snakes, birds, bugs, and plants are just some of the wildlife you’ll come across in one of our nature preserves. Sometimes, that even means you’ll see them on the trails. And it’s all by design! Unlike parks, which focus primarily on recreation, nature preserves help promote natural areas within city limits. This is great for us humans. It means we don’t have to travel outside of our city and towns to have access to nature. But, it also helps to protect our wildlife and the natural biodiversity in the area. And that’s important for a rich, functional ecosystem.
So how do we respect snakes AND stay safe on the trails?
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