Mecklenburg County gets Eastland land from Charlotte for new park. Here’s what’s planned
The Charlotte City Council voted unanimously Monday to give approximately 4.5 acres at the former Eastland Mall site to Mecklenburg County for a new public park that could feature walking trails, a playground and more.
Mecklenburg County allocated $12.3 million in June to fund the park as part of its Capital Improvement Program.
The county parks department has been working on its plan, currently dubbed “Eastland Park,” hosting public input sessions in April and May. The current “schematic concept” for the park includes:
Two lawn areas, one with artificial turf and one natural turf, with terraced seating
Walking trails
Covered picnic and performance areas
Restrooms
A playground “with hillside play”
A sprayground
A “multi-purpose court area that can accommodate basketball, futsal and hockey”
The design process “will continue through 2024,” according to the county parks website, “with a goal of starting construction in Fall 2024 and completion in Spring 2026.”
County residents can share questions and comments about the proposal and sign up to receive updates on the plan at publicinput.com/P51002.
What else is happening at Eastland Yards?
It’s been a long road for Charlotte to decide what to do with the 80.4 acres that once housed Eastland Mall. The city finalized its purchase of the property in 2012, and the mall was demolished in 2013.
Developers broke ground on a $175 million redevelopment project for much of the property in August 2022. That initial mixed-use project, led by Crosland Southeast, includes apartments, single-family homes and commercial buildings.
The final 29 acres were thrown into limbo in July 2022 when Tepper Sports and Entertainment pulled out of plans to build a youth academy and soccer fields at the site.
After more than a year of debate, the City Council voted in October to approve a plan for that land that includes indoor and outdoor sports facilities, an ice rink, dining options and more, and spend $30 million to help make it happen.
A skatepark that emerged at the site after the mall’s demolition was closed in 2022. The Charlotte Skate Foundation announced in April a plan to work with the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department to build a new skatepark near the site, Observer news partner WSOC reported.
Other Charlotte City Council news
A large crowd gathered in the Council Chambers of the Mecklenburg County Government Center during the public forum portion of Monday’s meeting to encourage the council to pass a resolution supporting Palestine amid the Israel-Hamas war. Multiple speakers in support of a potential resolution — which was not on the council’s agenda — addressed the body, and supporters chanted “free Palestine” on multiple occasions.
Outgoing Mayor Pro Tem Braxton Winston gave a reading from the Declaration of Independence and expressed gratitude for his time in city government to mark his final business meeting as a council member. Winston is running for state labor commissioner and therefore did not run for reelection to the City Council.
City Council members voted to approve a new contractor, National Express Service, to run the Charlotte Area Transit System’s bus system. The new contract will begin in February, when current contractor RATP-Dev’s contract ends, interim CATS CEO Brent Cagle told the council in November. Bus operators will not lose their jobs in the process.
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