Top Stories for Sept. 13, 2023

Happy father and child spending time outdoors and laughing

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, Sept. 12. The agenda is available here or view the meeting at Watch.MeckNC.gov. The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 19 at 6 p.m.

1. Tell Us Your Stories: Park and Recreation invites neighbors of L.C. Coleman Park to celebrate community history this weekend. An event is being held Saturday, Sept. 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., L.C. Coleman Park, 1501 McDonald Street in Charlotte. Residents can bring photos and other memories and local artists will interpret them into a community art installation. There will also be recreation opportunities and many community partners joining us. The art installation is part of an extensive renovation of L.C. Coleman Park, a 19-acre park in northwest Charlotte that is among several to receive improvements. The Board of County Commissioners dedicated $2 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), plus $850,000 in equity funding to the park. The renovations should be complete by this fall.

2. MeckBetter Together: From school meal programs to volunteer opportunities and early child education support, MeckBetter Together is here to help children succeed. Whether during the first exciting days of school or long days of summer, Mecklenburg County works year-round to bring together the community and child- and family-caring agencies to address the safety and wellbeing of children. The County also continues to seek families to provide a special home for youth. Anyone interested in learning more about adoption or foster parenting can call 704-336-KIDS.

3. Health Care for Vets: Good news for Mecklenburg County’s 50,000+ veterans. The deadline to apply for VA health care without first applying for VA benefits has been extended until Sept. 30. Any veteran who was deployed to a combat zone, never enrolled in VA health care, and left active duty between 9/11/01 and 10/1/13 is eligible. Mecklenburg County’s Veterans Services Division stands ready to counsel and help veterans and their families navigate their benefits. For more information, visit Veterans.MeckNC.gov or call 704-336-2102.

4. Leading History into the Future: Congratulations to Stewart Gray, who has been appointed the new director of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission. Gray has worked with the Historic Landmarks Commission since 2006. The Commission recommends properties for historic landmark designation and works to preserve properties through design and the buying and selling of endangered landmarks. Explore the 360+ historic landmarks in Mecklenburg County here.