Top Stories for Oct. 25, 2023

Photos from the Oct. 25, 2023 grand opening of the Ella B. Scarborough Community Resource Center.

Mecklenburg County provides this weekly rundown of top stories from the Board of County Commissioners meetings and from the Public Information Department’s newsroom. The Board met on Tuesday, Oct. 17. The agenda is available here or view the meeting at Watch.MeckNC.gov. The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. 

1. One Stop, Many Services: Mecklenburg County cut the ribbon on Oct. 25 for the new Ella B. Scarborough Community Resource Center (CRC). Community Resource Centers offer services from across Health and Human Services agencies and community partners. Services span economic stability, food and housing security, healthcare, education, and more. It is the second such center that allows County residents to access multiple critical services in one accessible location. The new CRC is located at 430 Stitt Road in northeast Charlotte. It is named for the late commissioner Ella B. Scarborough in honor of her lifetime of service to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community. Photos from the ribbon cutting event are available here.

2. 911 Location Signs: Park and Recreation is rolling out new signs on greenways to help users better identify their locations to 911 dispatchers during an emergency. The 911 location signs will be posted on greenway mile markers and on address signs at neighborhood exits. The signs will roll out on existing greenways through 2024 and will be included in the construction of future greenways. Media can join Park and Recreation and its partners to view the signs and ask questions on Friday, Oct. 27 at 11 a.m., Clarks Creek Greenway at Mallard Creek Elementary School, 9801 Mallard Creek Road in Charlotte.

3. New Parks, Preserves, and Greenways: At its Oct. 17 meeting, the Board of County Commissioners heard a presentation from the Park and Recreation Commission on recently completed parks, greenways, and facilities, and projects currently in progress. The presentation included an update on land acquisitions—388 acres across Mecklenburg County in 2023, with more pending. The report also looked ahead at $74 million in proposed spending for parks, greenways, and nature preserves in the FY2029 capital improvement projects budget.

4. Arts and Humanities: The Board proclaimed October to be National Arts and Humanities Month in Mecklenburg County. In its proclamation, the Board recognizes the work of the Arts & Science Council and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg nonprofit arts industry, which generates $243 million each year in economic activity and supports about 7,600 jobs.

5. Five Spooktacular Tips: It’s that time of year when fall foliage floods the parks, the sun disappears by dinnertime, sweaters begin their march out of the closet, and ghosts of all ages scramble through the neighborhood. Halloween is right around the corner. Whether trick or treating or attending a fall harvest festival, check out these suggestions to help embrace the autumn spirit while prioritizing health and well-being.