30 years later, this west Charlotte community says it’s still fighting for a park project

As growth in Charlotte exploded around his west Charlotte neighborhood, Rickey Hall has seen one thing stay the same: a lack of dedicated green space.

He’s been pushing for the expansion of the Irwin Creek Greenway in the West Boulevard corridor for 30 years and hopes Mecklenburg County will fund it this year. But he fears his historically Black neighborhood will be left out of the conversation once again.

Hall, the West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition chair, said he’s asked county officials to fund the project every year, and every year he’s been told to wait.

If Mecklenburg County wants to achieve racial equity goals, Hall said officials should consider investing in the west Charlotte greenway the same way it funded the expansive Little Sugar Creek Greenway in the wealthier south and east neighborhoods.

“There’s a question of equity and quality of life, social determinants of health and application of the natural amenities that make for vibrant and dynamic communities and corridors,” Hall said. “The west side and West Boulevard deserve that.”

Irwin Creek Greenway currently ‘two points to nowhere’

The Irwin Creek Greenway is a creekside gravel and pavement path that stretches 2.7 miles from Ray’s Splash Planet through Frazier Park and the Wesley Heights Neighborhood. It’s adjacent to Interstate 77.

The greenway is often packed with cyclists, skateboarders, pedestrians, runners and baby strollers. Mallard ducks and great blue herons can be spotted swimming and fishing in the creek. The greenway currently stops at Clanton Road.

“I’ve seen increased use along the span that’s there now, but it’s two points to nowhere,” Hall said.

Extending the greenway to West Tyvola Road would provide better connectivity for Renaissance Park and the residents around it, he said.

Hall isn’t getting his hopes up. He and his neighbors have asked for this expansion since Mecklenburg County began conceptual planning of its greenway system, he said.

“We keep advocating and every year we keep getting pushed down,” Hall said. “How many times can you get knocked down and still say you support an equitable expanse of greenways?”

County Commissioner Vilma Leake, who represents southwest Charlotte in her seventh term on the board, called attention to the need for parks in the west side at Tuesday’s county meeting.

“When I look at the numbers and see where the need is, it’s in my district,” Leake said. “I’m hoping that we as a board when it comes time to make a decision, we get the same respect as all the other districts.”

Though West Boulevard is home to a cluster of neighborhood parks, it lacks a connected greenway expanded through the entire corridor, stopping short at Clanton Road. The 2021 parks master plan shows a dotted line where the greenway’s is expected to grow to the southwest.

The plan lists equity as one of its main goals and says “routine maintenance/capital reinvestment, and upgrades should begin in areas that have historically received less resources.” One of those priority areas is the Irwin Creek Greenway.

At-large Commissioner Pat Cotham said she’s seen progressively more attention paid to the west side of Charlotte and “the crescent” area during her five terms on the board. The city uses the crescent shape to describe communities of color and higher concentrations of poverty than the “wedge” of south Charlotte.

But, she pointed out, parks and greenways aren’t everyone’s priorities. Cotham said she’s sensitive to county residents’ financial needs this year, considering most homeowners saw their property value increases in this year’s revaluation.

“Timing is everything,” Cotham said.

Charlotte group wants 50 miles of new greenways in 5 years

Mecklenburg County staff this week recommended funding $407 million for the county parks and recreation department’s capital project budget. That pays for 35 of the 85 projects proposed by the parks department by 2028, according to the county’s presentation. But it’s not clear whether the Irwin Creek Greenway would be among them.

Shannon Binns, executive director of Sustain Charlotte, said the proposed allocation would cause the county to fall behind on its goal of adding 10 miles of greenway a year. The $407 million would cover 11 greenways and about 4 miles per year.

“We also will remain behind our peer communities, who are building greenways at faster rates,” Binns said in an email to county commissioners.

Commissioners face the challenge of balancing a green space needs with dozens of others.

Mecklenburg County’s capital project list has 135 projects to fund including courts, the sheriff’s office, parks and recreation, Central Piedmont Community College, libraries and greenways. It all carries a $2.6 billion price tag.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education also wants commissioners to put a nearly $3 billion bond referendum on the ballot this year to pay for new facilities. That could result in property tax increases.

Mecklenburg Chief Financial Officer David Boyd told county and school board officials earlier this month county’s top-end capacity includes $2.5 billion for CMS and $750 million for Mecklenburg County in the form of a bond referendum.

The combined needs could result in commissioners increasing the tax rate by one cent in fiscal year 2024, board Chairman George Dunlap said Tuesday night. If the county were to entertain the full $3 billion bond request, the tax rate hike could be even steeper.

Mecklenburg County budget schedule

▪ Thursday, May 11 — CMS to make budget request of Mecklenburg County

▪ Thursday, May 18 — County Manager Dena Diorio to present fiscal year 2024 budget

▪ Wednesday, May 24 — Budget public hearing

▪ Thursday, June 1 — Budget straw votes

▪ Tuesday, June 6 — Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners to adopt budget