The 2014 Parks Build Community Project was the completion of the Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Park in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Park opened in 2011 and featured a playground, community garden, gravel walking trail and picnic tables. The project focused on improving access to this space and increasing recreation options to the neighbors of the park in this economically disadvantaged neighborhood.

Residents find the development continues to build a sense of neighborhood pride and strong positive identity already underway thanks to this nine-acre space. NRPA along with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and partners Playworld Systems, Greenfields Outdoor Fitness, Poligon by Porter Corp. and Cornilleau USA added:

• Children's play equipment including a Unity Climber dome, a Rushmore hill feature, a NEOS 360 game structure and a Cruise Line flyer courtesy of Playworld Systems. These features create more "high-five moments" for the children in the neighborhood.
• Five fitness stations help residents get active thanks to Greenfields Outdoor Fitness.
• New pavement for the half-mile walking trail. Along with a paved access point on the park's long southern edge to open the park up to neighbors on that side that previously had to walk around the entire park to enter.
• Shelters thanks to Poligon, an outdoor ping pong table thanks to Cornilleau USA and updates such as a basketball half-court with water fountain, revitalized open play field and improvements to the community garden.

The Dedication ceremony was held during the NRPA Annual Conference

There is a sense of pride for the Parks Build Community Projects among the NRPA membership and many an attendee of the NRPA Annual Conference. Those that attended the dedication and reopening of the Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Park during the conference experienced this firsthand and got to see the “legacy we leave behind.”

Please email Gina Cohen at gcohen@nrpa.org with questions or to help with future projects.