Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation is partnering with Hands On Charlotte, the Lincoln Heights community and US Airways to build a community park between the 1500 and 1900 blocks of Catherine Simmons Ave. in Charlotte. A news conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Monday, July 11 at the park site (near the corner of Catherine Simmons Ave. and Haines St.) to formally announce the project, which begins September 8.

Community discussions about a potential park in Lincoln Heights began nearly a decade ago; however, the project was delayed by County budget priorities. The recent closing of Lincoln Heights Elementary School and the need for a park for the families in this fragile neighborhood created an urgency for Hands On Charlotte and MCPRD to complete the project.

The park build will also provide Charlotteans with a means to join a national effort to make September 11, 2011 a National Day of Service and Remembrance. For the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, more than one million Americans are expected to serve their communities. Hands On Charlotte and its national organization, the Hands On Network are collaborating with MyGoodDeed.org to lead this huge effort. Hands On Charlotte expects to mobilize approximately 1,800 community and corporate volunteers for the 9/11 Week of Service and Remembrance.

The cost to fully complete the park is $200,000. About 15 percent of the cost has been raised so far.
Speakers will include: Jim Garges, director, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department; Vilma Leake, Mecklenburg County commissioner, and Lisa Quisenberry, executive director of Hands On Charlotte.