Tag: Nature Preserves

This Greenway is for the Birds — and Everyone Else!

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October 4, 2019 9:10 pm

Photos by John Mackay

In spring 2019, with just about a week to go before the start of construction of the highly anticipated extension of McAlpine Creek Greenway (Sardis Road to Providence Road), Mecklenburg County staff and a contractor gathered on site for what should have been a final pre-construction walkthrough.

With all the boxes on their to-do list nearly checked off, there was nothing that could have delayed the start of construction – except for some amazing birds.

How could birds lead to the delay of greenway construction?

Well, to fully understand why, we need to go back even further, to the winter of 2018.

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Recreation

The Real Difference Between Parks and Nature Preserves

Shannon Calabro

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June 13, 2019 7:24 pm

There’s no denying it – we talk about our Park and Rec department a lot. And in doing so, we use terms like “parks” and “nature preserves” pretty often. What we’ve found, though, is that over time people have started to use these terms interchangeably. But they are NOT the same thing! They may (sort of) be similar in the way they look, but the truth is that parks and nature preserves have their own identities and serve their own purposes. Let’s compare.

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Animals and Wildlife Environment

We Didn’t Start the Fire… or Did We?

Nicole Nolen

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January 11, 2019 8:34 pm

“Remember… Only YOU can prevent forest fires!”

The sound of Smokey Bear’s voice declaring this memorable message of fire prevention still conjures a sense of responsibility in me. Can you hear it? Visualize his furry finger pointing right at YOU? The wildfire prevention campaign began in 1944 and is the longest-running public service advertising campaign in U.S. history (and is based on a real-life bear)!

Thanks to Smokey, we all know the devastation that fire can bring to any natural area. But, did you know that prescribed fire is an important part of maintaining diverse and healthy ecosystems? Believe it or not, they’re a tool we use right here in Mecklenburg County and I got to tag along for one at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve.

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Around Town

4 Places to Fall in Love with the Foliage This Season

Shannon Calabro

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October 25, 2018 4:32 pm

It took a while for temperatures to drop this year, but it’s safe to say that fall is officially here. And while this season is a favorite for many reasons (the sweaters, the boots, the pumpkin spice everything), the amazing views of fall foliage you can find throughout the County top the list.

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Recreation

Trail and Error: Find the Best Local Hike for YOU!

Shannon Calabro

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September 20, 2018 6:27 pm

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.

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