Meck County commissioners accept Eastland Mall site development responsibility

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Mecklenburg County commissioners took the next step Tuesday to develop the former Eastland Mall site into a park.

Commissioners voted 6-2 to accept 4.5 acres of the former mall property from the City of Charlotte, free of charge.

County parks and recreation designers have been working on a plan for a park for more than a year.

Schematics show they’d like to create turf and grass sports fields, walking trails, and a stage among other amenities.

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Parks department leaders say they’ll continue designing through the majority of this year. They hope to start construction at the end of 2024 and open the space in 2026.

District 1 Commissioner Elaine Powell voted against the motion. She said the plan for the park came to them without enough room for design changes.

“It just came to us so pre-baked,” Powell said. “In pre-development, nobody even asked Parks and Rec what they thought, like about what size park you need, where you need it, how to get the best access to the public.”

Other county leaders say they do not want to miss the opportunity to do something with the land.

“We have paid significant amounts to build a school out there and to do other things. They’re giving this to us for free,” said chairman George Dunlap.

District 2 Commissioner Vilma Leake echoed Dunlap’s sentiments.

“The Eastland Mall community, for 14 years, has been neglected. You, the county, the city and nobody else has done anything until now,” said Leake.

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