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Today’s Weather

94º | 20% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:21 a.m. | Sunset 8:36 p.m.
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Meet us at the park 🌳

Head outside with a guide to Charlotte’s parks
A large tree over a pond in Freedom Park.
A favorite feature for Freedom Park visitors is the 7-acre lake in the center of the park. | Photo by CLTtoday
Whether you’re looking for a place to play with the kiddos or to decompress with some off-screen time, Charlotte houses dozens of parks and recreational spots for you to enjoy.

Ready to plan your trip to the park? Grab your shades and trusty water bottle — here are some of the Queen City’s best:

An art sculpture stands in the foreground against the Uptown Charlotte skyline.

Romare Bearden Park offers visitors the chance to see artwork + patches of green in Uptown.

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Photo by CLTtoday

Urban parks

Romare Bearden Park, 300 S. Church St., Charlotte
Feel the city’s heartbeat from the “heart of Uptown.” Romare Bearden offers a pristine view of the skyline with ample green space for public gatherings + large-scale city events — think: festivals, concerts, and ESPN’s College GameDay.

First Ward Park, 301 E. 7th St., Charlotte
Prepare to be impressed strolling through this four-acre urban park in the First Ward neighborhood of Uptown. This spot features an amphitheater and fountain + the city hosts free concerts, lawn games, food trucks, and local breweries.

Two guys jump for a frisbee with their teammates watching in background.

Need space for a game of ultimate frisbee? Check out Veteran’s Memorial Park in Plaza Midwood.

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Photo by CLTtoday

Family parks

Freedom Park, 1900 E. Blvd., Charlotte
A favorite spot for native Charlotteans and newcomers alike, this 98-acre park situated between Charlotte’s historic Dilworth and Myers Park neighborhoods provides ample space for outdoor sports, picnics, and more surrounding a gorgeous seven-acre lake.

Reedy Creek Park, 2900 Rocky River Rd., Charlotte
Nature lovers will love their visit here. Along with 125 acres for outdoor sports and public gatherings, the Reedy Creek Nature Center features live, native animals, education programs, and a gift shop.

Sports parks

Park Road Park, 6220 Park Rd., Charlotte
Get active on eight basketball courts, six baseball fields, volleyball courts, and tennis courts adjacent to an 11-acre lake.

Latta Park, 601 E. Park Ave., Charlotte
This 31-acre urban park in Dilworth features courts for tennis, volleyball, and basketball + picnic facilities, playgrounds, walking trails, and soccer fields.
Discover 10+ parks
Asked

What do you look for when visiting a local park?
A. Walking/running paths
B. Picnic + party space
C. Trees
D. Sports facilities
E. Fountains + access to water
Park your answer
 
Events
Wednesday, July 17
  • Young Professional’s Happy Hour Event | Wednesday, July 17 | 5-7 p.m. | Armored Cow Brewing Co., 8821 JW Clay Blvd., Ste. 1, Charlotte | $15-$25 | Network with fellow business professional looking to grow their connections in the Queen City.
  • Todos A La Mesa Dinner Series | Wednesday, July 17 | 7-10 p.m. | Hex Coffee, Kitchen & Natural Wines, 201 Camp Rd., Ste. 103, Charlotte | $150 | Savor an evening of food and community in this chef-driven summer dinner series.
Thursday, July 18
  • Business After Hours at Oaklore Distilling | Thursday, July 18 | 5-7 p.m. | Oaklore Distilling Co., 11136 Monroe Rd., Matthews | Cost of purchase | Network and make new connections over delicious drinks.
  • July Paint & Brew | Thursday, July 18 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Primal Brewery, Belmont 52 Ervin St., Belmont | $30 | Enjoy craft brews while painting a beautiful summer sunset.
  • Movie Night by SportsLink Sports & Social | Thursday, July 18 | 7-10 p.m. | 9110 Kings Parade Blvd., Charlotte | $12 | Buckle up for a private premiere of the new film “Twisters” + free snacks and the chance to win prizes.
Friday, July 19
  • Queen’s Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week | Friday, July 19 | 5 p.m. | Various locations | $30-$50 | Treat yourself to three-course meal deals at 100+ restaurants in eight counties across Charlotte.
  • Camp North End Studio Crawl | Friday, July 19 | 6-9 p.m. | Boileryard, 300 Camp Rd., Charlotte | Artists invite you to explore their studios and check out their work on display.
  • Sammy Hagar: The Best of All Worlds Tour | Friday, July 19 | 7 p.m. | PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd., Charlotte | $35+ | Spend Friday night jamming to the “Red Rocker” with special guest Loverboy.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Weather
  • Another hot day ahead. The WCNC Weather Impact Team is forecasting temperatures in the mid to upper 90s this afternoon with the potential for isolated thunderstorms. Relief from the heat is expected later this week. (WCNC)
Announced
  • Sprouts Farmers Market will open a third Charlotte location. The Arizona-based supermarket known for fresh produce and organic options will debut in the summer of 2025 at the One NoDa Park development on the corner of 36th and Tryon streets. (The Charlotte Observer)
Development
  • Atlanta developer Wood Partners has acquired 12.3 acres near Mint Hill for its next apartment project. The firm plans to build a 252-unit garden-style apartment community at the site. A timeline for the $7.3 million deal remains TBA. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Jobs
  • Truist is cutting jobs from its technology department. The bank announced cuts to branches and ‘sizable layoffs’ last year as part of a $750 million cost-cutting plan. Truist is headquartered at 214 N. Tryon St. with 3,000+ workers in the Charlotte area. (The Charlotte Observer)
State
  • Rock Hill is receiving $500,000 from the state of South Carolina to support clean-up efforts after devastating storms back in April. The city believes it will be able to help 60 families through state funding and donations. (WSOC)
Opening
  • Shake Shack is coming to Charlotte Premium Outlets. The burger chain will be at the outlet entrance beside Saks Off 5th and serve its iconic burgers and shakes. Doors will open to customers in 2025.
Closed
  • Celebrity chef David Burke closed his SouthPark restaurant after less than a year. The Fox & Falcon was located at 4905 Ashley Park Ln. — part of Sharon Square. Burke said low foot traffic and ongoing economic struggles led to the closure. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Sports
  • North Carolina native Evy Leibfarth has been training for the upcoming Summer Olympics at the US National Whitewater Center in Charlotte. Leibfarth is competing in three kayaking and canoeing events in Paris as a two-time Olympian. (WCNC)
Listen
  • Seth Curry signed a new one-year deal with the Charlotte Hornets. The 2024-2025 season will be his 12th NBA campaign. Go beyond the court for the biggest stories on the Charlotte Hornets with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
    Drink Up
    • Drink Up Week — a celebration of our city’s vibrant beverage culture — is coming up quickly from Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26. We asked local businesses to join the fun by sharing drink deals; check out this map of promos that are poppin’ just for the occasion.
    Trending
    Seasonal
    • Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? It’s Christmas in July, and we’re celebrating by gifting new and returning advertisers with special promotions to get your message in front of our readers. Get in touch to learn more (read: open your present).*
     
    Shop

    🦁 The lion shops tonight

    Southern Lion debuts in Pineville
    A couple walks the open aisles of a furniture store with lamps, light fixtures, and picture frames on the walls.
    Southern Lion visitors can tour the work and goods from more than 100 vendors, all under one roof. | Photo by CLTtoday
    Looking for a birthday gift or early Christmas present? This City Editor would suggest going beyond the ordinary— home goods store Southern Lion at Carolina Place Mall in Pineville is now open.

    An opportunistic shopper could easily spend hours touring the 80,000 sqft of vendor booths touting a large, eclectic collection of unique furniture, lights, decorations, and home and garden items — with a charming touch of Southern hospitality — all under one roof.

    Visitors needing a break from shopping can enjoy a coffee or snack at the Southern Lion Cafe, nestled in the back of the store + a “man cave” with TVs and lounge chairs.

    Where one chapter ends another begins. When the popular home decor store Blacklion closed its doors in 2023, Southern Lion offered many of its retailers a place to go.

    Store hours

    • Monday—Saturday: 11 a.m.—6 p.m.
    • Sunday: 12—6 p.m.
    Bringing Southern Lion to life
    The Buy
    ⚡ It’s the second (and final) Amazon Prime Day. Shop Day Two lightning deals that just went live.

    Get 56% off a wireless charging station that can charge your phone, earbuds, and smartwatch all at once.

    This $400 ionic hair dryer is on sale for under $100.

    Get a $50 Old Navy gift card for $40, or a $50 Regal gift card for $40.

    This five outlet surge protector includes four USB ports and charges your devices with notable speed.

    Get a Bentgo stackable lunch box 55% off.

    Keep your eye on this bestselling tennis dress for a lightning deal later today.
    More worth The Buy
    6AM City In-house
     
    The Wrap
     
    CLT_Jack VanderToll

    Today’s edition by:
    Jack
    From the editor
    City editor Maria and I had a great lunch this week at Fin & Fino in Uptown. I recommend the furikake fries.
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