May 7, 2003

NEW WEST PARK: THREE OPTIONS UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR THIRD WARD PARK

May 14 Urban Design Public Workshop CANCELED

Charlotte, NC - Future public meetings on the urban design of Third Ward and the New West Park have been postponed, while the location of the New West Park is under consideration. That includes the CANCELLATION of a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 14, 2003, at 6:30 p.m. at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center.

Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte are drafting a new vision for the Third Ward neighborhood, including location, programming and design for New West Park. Three alternatives for the park are now under consideration, including property owned by Mecklenburg County. The public meeting process has been postponed while the City/County consultant, Civitas, Inc., explores the possibility of acquiring or trading for the land necessary for each option.

· 8-acre park located on land currently owned by Mecklenburg County.

· 5.2-acre park facing Trade Street, bound by Trade, Mint, Second, and Poplar Streets.

· 3.7-acre park at Tryon and Third Streets.

Civitas, Inc., a nationally recognized urban design, planning and landscape architecture firm, is studying the options and the amount of time it would take for the surrounding Third Ward neighborhood to reach the critical mass necessary to support the New West Park. The project leader of Civitas, Inc. is scheduled to update the Charlotte City Council and the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners in June 2003.

For more information, citizens can call 704-330-4336 or check the Web site www.parkandrec.com . The Web site features a summary of the project, the urban design team members, and an opportunity to comment via e-mail.