| Do you live in the Charlotte, NC area? Are you trying | | | | to get back to nature with a great variety of wildlife. |
| to save some money this summer by staying close | | | | The trails will take you up and down hills, across |
| to home for your vacation? You'll love going on a | | | | streams and through meadows as you see a variety |
| picnic in one of Mecklenburg County's great parks! | | | | of birds, mammals and assorted plant life. The trails |
| The Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation | | | | vary in difficulty from easy to quite strenuous so |
| Department has broken the County into five Park | | | | make sure you stop at the Nature Center and check |
| Regions. In this series of articles we'll feature at least | | | | out the map before you start hiking. Dogs are |
| one park from each of these regions. In this article | | | | allowed on the trails as long as they're kept on |
| we'll start with Reedy Creek Park from the East Park | | | | leashes no more than six feet in length. Please clean |
| Region. | | | | up after your dog. |
| Reedy Creek Park at 2900 Rocky River Road has | | | | The Nature Center itself is open Monday - Saturday |
| something for everyone from the adventurer to the | | | | from 9:00 to 5:00 and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00. The |
| laid back soul to the kids to the family dog. It | | | | Nature Center features live animals, an exhibit hall and |
| features one indoor and nine outdoor pavilions that | | | | a gift shop. Perhaps the best thing about the Nature |
| can be reserved for your family reunion or corporate | | | | Center are the educational programs they offer. |
| event. Each of these pavilions has grills and plenty of | | | | During the summer season they have almost daily |
| picnic tables for your event. There are also plenty of | | | | programs that range from "Hovering Hummingbirds" |
| individual picnic tables spread around the park for | | | | to "P.L.A.N.T. Club" (Preschoolers Learning About |
| your convenience. | | | | Nature Together). For more information, search for |
| If you're looking to work up a sweat, there are | | | | Reedy Creek Park's Facebook page. |
| several options for you at Reedy Creek Park. My | | | | For those of us who like to take things a bit slower, |
| favorite is the 18 hole disc golf course. This course | | | | Reedy Creek Park has horseshoe pits, fishing in two |
| takes playing frisbee to a whole new level. The | | | | different ponds and plenty of space to just kick back |
| object is to throw your disc through a chain link | | | | and relax. If you're going to fish, you'll need a license |
| "hole" several hundred feet away. The hilly course | | | | if you're aged 16 or over. There are also playgrounds |
| winds through the woods and crosses water to | | | | for the kids. |
| challenge even the most skilled disc golfer. You'll be | | | | Remember I said there was even something for the |
| surprised at the workout this game will give you. If | | | | family dog? Barkingham Park is a four acre fenced in |
| disc golf isn't your game, there are volleyball courts, | | | | dog park where you can let your best friend off his |
| softball fields, a basketball court and soccer fields to | | | | leash and let him run around. Dogs have to be fully |
| keep you busy. One of the soccer fields can be | | | | documented and current in their vaccinations to be |
| configured into a regulation cricket pitch. Did you | | | | allowed in the park and children under 12 have to |
| know that anyone even plays cricket in the United | | | | remain outside the dog park. |
| States? | | | | In our next article, we'll pay a visit to Freedom Park |
| The park borders on the Reedy Creek Nature Center | | | | in the Central Park Region. Freedom Park is thought |
| and Preserve. The Preserve has 10 miles of well | | | | of as Charlotte's version of New York's Central Park. |
| marked hiking trails that will offer you the opportunity | | | | Stay tuned. |