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Running a large parks system in a fast-growing county might sound overwhelming, but for Nick Walker, it’s exactly the kind of challenge he was looking for. The former Memphis parks director took over as head of Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation in February 2025 and now oversees more than 290 parks, greenways and facilities across 22,500 acres.
Since arriving in Charlotte, Walker has been getting to know the system from the inside out. He’s toured parks, met staff and listened to residents’ feedback as the department begins updating its master plan — a process that will help shape future investments in parks, sports fields, pools and community centers. While the county has made major progress in recent years — completing more than 50 of 85 planned projects — Walker says the demand still outpaces what’s currently in place.
On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Walker sits down with The Ledger’s Lindsey Banks to talk about his vision for the county’s parks and recreation system, the challenges of managing a growing park system, and upcoming projects he’s excited about. They also discuss:
What drew him to Charlotte and why Mecklenburg’s park system is a “dream job.”
The county’s ongoing growth — and how the parks department is trying to keep up.
How the department uses community feedback and master planning to set priorities.
The big-picture needs: more greenways, more ball fields, more pools.
How residents can get involved in shaping future park plans.
The accuracy of the NBC sitcom “Parks & Rec.”
We hope you enjoy the conversation with Nick Walker.
This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.
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