Meet Mecklenburg County’s new parks director (free version)
Plus: Local nonprofit advocates for county parks; Higher vacancy rates reported at newer office buildings; New American Airlines lounge coming to CLT; Ledger wins regional award
Good morning! Today is Wednesday, July 16, 2025. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
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Editor’s note: This is a shorter, free version of The Charlotte Ledger sent to people on our free sign-up list. The complete version for paying members went out 15 minutes ago. It included:
A Q&A and podcast episode with new county parks director Nick Walker, in which he shares what he’s learned so far and his goals for Mecklenburg’s 22,500-acre parks system.
A charity spotlight on Partners for Parks, which is a local nonprofit that helps maintain greenways, playgrounds and more.
The newest edition of Real Estate Whispers that covers Charlotte’s shifting office market, the airport buying up more land and key deals unfolding across the city.
A rendering for a new American Airlines lounge called "Provisions by Admirals Club," that’s coming to Concourse A at Charlotte Douglas this summer.
A first-place Southern journalism award for a Ledger arts criticism piece.
Plus events happening around town and the news headlines of the week so far!
Paid subscriptions to The Ledger are $12/month or $129/year, and you receive full access to every edition by email and on our website, including the complete Wednesday and Friday issues. Details here.
Q&A: Mecklenburg’s new parks director, Nick Walker, says he’s focused on expanding access, updating facilities and listening to the community as the county grows
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Director Nick Walker took over the role in February 2025, in which he oversees the operations of 22,500 acres of green space and facilities. Freedom Park is pictured above. (Headshot courtesy of Nick Walker)
by Lindsey Banks
Six months into his new role as director of Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, Nick Walker is still getting to know every corner of the county — and all 22,500 acres of parks, greenways, nature preserves and recreation centers that fall under his watch. Walker oversees a department with a $71 million annual budget and a big job: helping a fast-growing county keep pace with demand for green space, sports fields, swimming pools and more.
Before moving to Charlotte, Walker spent six years leading the parks system in Memphis, Tenn., and has a background in data, performance management and public service.
The Ledger recently sat down with Walker to talk about his first impressions of Charlotte, his goals for the county’s parks system, the county’s greatest recreational needs and how residents can help shape the future of local parks. He even gave us his take on the NBC sitcom “Parks & Rec” — and why it’s a “disturbingly” accurate portrayal of a local parks department.
Q: What are your first impressions of the county and its park system?
Charity spotlight: Local nonprofit supports maintenance of Charlotte’s parks and greenways
Exploring parks and greenways is the best way to get to know a city, says Rachel Orn, the marketing director for Partners for Parks. When she moved to Charlotte, that’s the first thing she did.
Since 1996, Partners for Parks, a nonprofit that raises and distributes money to Charlotte’s 200+ parks and green spaces, has built playgrounds, assisted Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department with park and greenway maintenance, and established summer camp scholarships.
The importance of the organization’s work was most apparent during Covid, Orn said.
Commercial Real Estate Whispers: An office ‘flight to quality’ — or a gradual shift?
In an edition published Tuesday as its own standalone newsletter, paying Ledger members who have opted in to receive Real Estate Whispers in their inboxes enjoyed learning about the following topics:
Newly released data suggests that newer Charlotte office buildings have higher vacancy rates than most older office buildings. Is there still a “flight to quality”?
Charlotte airport continues to gobble up land south of the airfield toward Steele Creek, part of plans for a warehousing and logistics hub
A Ballantyne office building sold last week for — wait for it — more than its tax value!
Whispers readers weigh in on what local commercial real estate will look like at the end of 2025 and into 2026. Optimism? Pessimism? More of the same?
A round-up of key land deals in Graham Street corridor, Arrowood Road and Tyvola … rezonings at the Arboretum and near the airport … and more!
Charlotte Commercial Real Estate Whispers is our regular check-in on Charlotte growth and development, available exclusively to Ledger paying members. It provides an inside look at what developers and other real estate pros are buzzing about — including plenty of scoops you won’t find elsewhere.
➡️ Receive Whispers as a newsletter by opting in online
✈️ New American Airlines lounge headed to Charlotte’s airport
American Airlines plans to open a new type of Admirals Club lounge at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in late summer 2025 called "Provisions by Admirals Club," the company announced Tuesday. Located next to Gate A1 in Concourse A, the lounge will feature high-top tables, limited furniture for quick visits and a menu of fresh grab-and-go items, including vegetarian options. Access to Provisions follows the same entry rules as other Admirals Club lounges, including memberships, eligible credit cards or day passes. (Photo courtesy of American Airlines)
🏆 Ledger wins 1st-place Southern journalism award for arts review
Good news: The Ledger won an award this month honoring the best journalism in the Southeastern U.S. in the category of arts criticism.
Cristina Bolling, The Ledger’s former managing editor, won a first-place “Green Eyeshade Award” in the “criticism & reviews” category in the print and digital writing division for her March 2024 review of “Seeing Auschwitz,” an exhibit about the Holocaust at the VAPA Center in uptown that was presented by the Stan Greenspon Holocaust and Social Justice Education Center at Queens University of Charlotte.
The Green Eyeshade Awards, in their 75th year, are run by the Society of Professional Journalists and recognize “the very best journalism” across 12 Southern states. The odd name refers to the visors worn by old-time newspaper workers.
Cristina’s article offered a thoughtful reflection on the exhibit and emphasized how it offered the chance to examine the ordinary faces and the human characteristics of the victims and the perpetrators. (Cristina left The Ledger last month after five years to take a job outside of journalism.)
Other Charlotte media winners were The Charlotte Observer, which won two awards, for entertainment reporting (Adam Bell) and profile-writing (Theoden Janes); and Charlotte PBS station WTVI, which won four awards, in feature reporting, explanatory reporting and short-form video reporting.
As I often say, we’re not in this for the awards, and building a successful local media company through smart, honest and thoughtful local journalism is its own reward. But we’re grateful to be recognized by our journalism peers for publishing work they consider to be first-rate. —Tony Mecia
Related Ledger article:
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
FRIDAY: “Queen's Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week®,” 5-10 p.m., at 125 participating restaurants in 9 counties. Indulge in decadent meals and delicious deals during Queen’s Feast, July 18-27, as local restaurants showcase their cuisine with 3-course prix fixe menus. Prices range from $30 to $50 depending on location.
FRIDAY: “Touring the Colliding Worlds of the de la Torre Brothers, from Aztlán to California,” 6-7 p.m., at the Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S Tryon St. Join John Corso-Esquivel, PhD, associate professor and chair in the art department at Davidson College, for a gallery talk and pop-culture perspective on the vibrant works by the de la Torre Brothers on view in the exhibition "Collidoscope Retro-Perspective." There will be two tours, beginning at 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Free.
SUNDAY: “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore Screening & Talkback,” 12:40-3 p.m., at The Independent Picture House, 4237 Raleigh St. After the screening, filmmaker Michelle Mary Schaefer will hold a discussion with the audience. She is an award-winning actress, screenwriter, director, filmmaker and intimacy coordinator who is deaf. Melissa Harris, a professional American Sign Language interpreter for 25+ years, will support the talk. $10.20/ticket.
SEPTEMBER 6: “Assist ME Wheels & Walker-thon,” at Park Road Park, 6220 Park Rd. Walk, walker or roll up to 5K and raise funds for the purchase of medical mobility equipment, such as wheelchairs, that Assist ME gifts to those in need throughout the greater Charlotte region. This is Assist ME’s first signature event in its 10-year history of bridging poverty and healthcare insurance gaps. Individuals and groups of all abilities and disabilities are welcome! Prices range from $35 to $100.
OCTOBER 23: “Carolina Charm: A Cocktail Affair,” 7-11 p.m., at The Revelry Camp North End, 701 Keswick Ave. Hosted by Southern Charm’s Shep Rose and Austen Kroll, this high-energy girls’ night out blends celebrity, cocktails and cause, benefiting fertility preservation for kids with rare cancers. Sponsorships and silent auction spots are still available, offering bold brand visibility with 500+ high-spending, lifestyle-driven attendees. Individual tickets will be available starting August 23.
➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.
In brief
Two arrested in uptown mass shooting: Police charged Damien Evans II and Shawn Cannon in connection with a mass shooting near Encore Night Club in uptown early Sunday morning that left one man dead and five others injured. Investigators say Cannon fled in a silver BMW and later found with a stolen gun. (WSOC)
2026 MLS All-Star Game coming to Charlotte: Don Garber, commissioner of Major League Soccer, is expected to announce that Bank of America Stadium will host the 2026 All-Star Game. The event is expected to draw top talent and thousands of fans ahead of the FIFA World Cup later that year. (Axios)
Wall collapses during storm at SouthPark Mall: A temporary wall fell inside SouthPark Mall during Saturday’s rainstorm, prompting panic but no reported injuries. The wall exposed a construction site for Zara, which is set to open its first North Carolina location at the mall by next year. (Charlotte Observer)
New ad agency CEO: Wray Ward, Charlotte’s largest ad agency, named chief creative officer John Roberts as its new CEO. He replaces Kent Panther, who takes the role of the president and chief growth officer. (Ledger on LinkedIn)
Mecklenburg allows private pool rentals: As of July 1, homeowners in Mecklenburg County can legally rent their backyard pools via platforms like Swimply, but must meet state safety regulations, such as performing regular chemical testing and maintaining non-slip decks. Officials say the public health department won’t enforce the rules, but noncompliance could trigger permit requirements. (WFAE)
Thieves target cars at south Charlotte hotel: Over the weekend, dozens of cars were broken into at the Ballantyne Hotel, with jewlery, cash, guns and luxury watches stolen from at least 17 vehicles. Victims returned from events to find smashed windows and valuables gone. No arrests have been made in connection with the break-ins. (WSOC)
Local breweries brace for can shortage: Charlotte brewers are feeling the strain of new aluminum tariffs, with supply chain uncertainty and higher costs for materials. While beer prices haven’t risen yet, brewers say ongoing instability could threaten small business survival. (Charlotte Magazine)
New Netflix series filmed in North Carolina: The eight-episode drama “The Hunting Wives” includes scenes shot in the Charlotte area and premieres July 21. Based on May Cobb’s bestselling novel, the show follows a woman drawn into a secretive social circle with dangerous consequences. (Charlotte Observer)
Hiker dies in fall at N.C. waterfall: A woman in her twenties passed away on Sunday after falling 75 to 100 feet at Big Bradley Falls, near Saluda about 95 miles west of Charlotte, marking the second hiker death at a North Carolina waterfall in a week. Officials have not released her identity or the cause of the fall. (Observer)
Programming note: Ledger editor Tony Mecia appears as a guest on 90.7 WFAE at 6:40 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. on Thursdays for a discussion of the week’s local business news in the station’s “BizWorthy” segment. Audio and transcripts are also available online.
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