Freedom Park in Charlotte, NC
One of the great things about Charlotte, North Carolina is its bucolic scenery with abundant flora and fauna. The Mecklenburg County Parks and Recs Department has capitalized on this feature by creating and maintaining gorgeous parks throughout the region. One such beauty is Freedom Park, a 98-acre park located about three miles from downtown Charlotte in the Central Park Region, around a 7-acre pond surrounded by paved walking trails.
The park is well equipped with plentiful athletic equipment, including 2 volleyball courts, 4 baseball fields, and batting cages, 4 soccer fields, and 12 tennis courts. There’s even a full-court basketball court for b-ball enthusiasts. There’s truly something for everyone at Freedom Park.
The park boasts two playgrounds for the little ones, and an NFL Play 60 Kidzone for the big kids. Created as part of a community outreach program by the Carolina Panthers, the Play 60 initiative helps to get kids playing for 60 minutes a day with an obstacle course, a 40-yard dash with automated timing, and a climbing structure, all constructed on synthetic grass.
Fun for the Whole Family
In addition, there are plentiful walking trails and paths in Freedom Park which has access to Little Sugar Creek Greenway, a 19 mile stretch of walking trails along the creek. Freedom Park also has 5 shelters with grills and picnic tables which can be reserved for private parties. One enclosed shelter, the Mahlon Adams Pavillion, even has a gas fireplace and a 42’’ plasma TV. The rental of this facility includes the use of an adjacent gated picnic area.
Near the Pavillion lies the Freedom Park Master Gardener Demonstration Garden, where shade and sun garden beds are separated by wide walking paths as well as grassy berms, and each plant is identified with names and growing information for the budding apprentice gardener. Visitors can learn about sunny pollinators and shade-loving plants as well as native shrubs and perennials. The colors are magnificent in every season.
Enjoy the iconic Freedom Park bandshell which overlooks the pond surrounded by majestic trees as well as the wide-open green spaces, perfect for throwing a frisbee around. Freedom Park is open during the winter from sunrise to 9 p.m. Bring the whole family!
