Efforts to restore several park and greenway projects to Mecklenburg County’s five-year capital-improvement plan – including the paving of a gravel stretch of Mallard Creek Greenway – got indirect support on Monday. County commissioners voted to approve the $1.7 billion plan except for $43.75 million toward a $175 million pro soccer stadium, with a decision on that money deferred until August.

If the board votes in August not to fund the soccer stadium, the board could then reallocate the money to other projects, said Commissioner Dumont Clarke, who made the motion. Commissioner Pat Cotham said she wants the money, if pulled from the stadium, to go toward greenway and parks-and-recreation projects.

 

Deferral will give City Council more time to decide on stadium plan

Commissioners approved the deferral to give the Charlotte City Council more time to decide if it will join the county and private investors in replacing aging Memorial Stadium with a 20,000-seat soccer stadium. The private group hopes to win a Major League Soccer team for Charlotte.

 

Links for more information

• Watch the stadium-deferral debate (To view the discussion, advance Monday’s meeting video to 3 hours: 03 minutes)
• Watch the WSOC-TV report of Monday’s meeting
• Read the Charlotte Observer article on the stadium plan and city-county past votes.
• Share your thoughts with the commissioners – Mecklenburg commissioners say they heard from many people about this issue and about using the money instead for greenway and park-and-recreation projects including the Mallard Creek Greenway improvements. You can add your thoughts, as well, by calling or emailing the commissioners about your preferences.

 

County Board contact information

Ella B. Scarborough (Chair, At Large)

• 980-314-2879
• Ella.Scarborough@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Pat Cotham, (At Large)

• 704-336-2472
• Patricia.Cotham@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Trevor Fuller (At Large)

• 704-336-2472
• Trevor.Fuller@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Jim Puckett (Vice-chair, District 1)

• 980-314-2876
• jim.puckett@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Vilma Leake (District 2)

• 704-336-2472
• Vilma.Leake@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

George Dunlap (District 3)

• 704-336-2472
• george.dunlap@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Dumont Clarke (District 4)

• 704-996-6126
• Dumont.Clarke@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Matthew Ridenhour (District 5)

• 704-336-2472
• Matthew.Ridenhour@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Bill James (District 6)

• 704-336-2472
• wjames@carolina.rr.com