Living in the city can leave you longing for greenery and the sweet smells and sounds of nature. When you traverse the urban jungle all day, all you want is a bit of open sky, the fresh scent of grass, and the twitter of birds to soothe your stressed mind. This is why green spaces in the city are so important, and you’ll find plenty of options in close proximity to our Charlotte apartments.
Whether you’re craving the tranquil melody of falling water near a public fountain or you’d like a little more entertainment with a summer concert series, there are several prime spots in Charlotte that can deliver the fun and sun you’re seeking.
Offset your time in the office with a party in the park, whether you’re listening to birdsong solo or enjoying a picnic or stroll with friends. Here are just a few of the best parks providing free outdoor fun for all the residents at our Charlotte apartments.
Romare Bearden
This 5.4-acre slice of heaven is situated within walking distance of Bank of America Stadium, the Mint Museum, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, and EpiCentre in Uptown. Whether you’re in the mood to picnic before a Panthers game, you want to observe sculptures in both indoor and outdoor settings, or you’re interested in a stroll in the park following dinner and dancing at one of EpiCentre’s many nightclubs, Romare Bearden Park is just a few blocks away.
This gorgeous park features two gardens, Maudell and Madeline, a Formal Oval, the Big Moon Green, the Childhood Muse Plaza, the Paris Memory Lounge, and more. In short, there’s plenty of room to wander and lose yourself among flowers, sculptures, or backlit water walls at this park in the heart of the city. Surrounded by structures of steel and glass, this park is a brilliant natural counterpart that surrounds you with greenery and lets you get back to nature.
Even better – you’ll enjoy all kinds of events throughout the summer months, including live jazz and other music, dancing, food, and more. The outdoors awaits at this enchanting park that is not a far distance from any of our apartments in Charlotte, NC.
First Ward Park
This pleasant 4.5-acre park next to UNC Charlotte Center City and ImaginOn took a decade of planning and a year of construction to create, but it was well worth the wait, providing open green space, a modern fountain, an expansive pavilion, and animal sculptures designed to beautify the First Ward neighborhood in Uptown.
Residents and visitors alike can take a soothing stroll through the park to explore the diverse vegetation, or you can visit to enjoy one of the many free concerts or events hosted here throughout the year, with plenty of rock and bluegrass to enjoy. Just a hop, skip, and jump from our Charlotte apartments, this open park offers a much-needed respite from the crowded byways of city living.
Fourth Ward Park
At only three acres, this park isn’t the largest in the Uptown area, but it does feature plenty of walking trails, a playground for kids, and decorative water fountains that will dazzle the senses and delight the psyche. Full of the same charm that populates the Fourth Ward neighborhood, this park beckons with fully mature trees that provide dappled shade, gurgling fountains that erase the sounds of the city, lantern-like lampposts that look like they’re straight out of a Thomas Kinkade painting, and bricked pathways that make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
Nestled among historic homes and well-tended gardens, this park is entirely embedded in the community, blending seamlessly into its surroundings and blurring the lines between home and park. Wander around and you may find the open library box, designed to look like a tiny house where visitors can take and leave books. If you’re seeking a charming escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, you can’t go wrong with a visit to this small park in the Fourth Ward.
Freedom Park
Although not technically part of Uptown, this nearby park features 98 acres of space, making it one you’ll definitely want to check out if you’re looking for a day in the great outdoors. As you’d expect, there are plenty of amenities in this massive park, including 12 tennis courts, four baseball fields and batting cages, four soccer fields, two volleyball courts, and a full basketball court.
There’s also a 7-acre lake, extensive walking trails, two playgrounds, five outdoor shelters with grills, a bandshell, demonstration gardens, and more. Uptown green spaces are convenient for a stop-in during your lunch break or events like summer concerts. This is something different. When you visit Freedom Park, you can hike, bike, and play among natural splendor as far as the eye can see. If you really want to feel like you’re getting away from the urban landscape, step outside your future Charlotte apartment and take a short stroll to Freedom Park.
U.S. National Whitewater Center
Located outside of Charlotte proper, the USNWC is an organization committed to promoting access to the outdoors, as well as the development of active lifestyles. With 1,300 acres on the Catawba River and a 40-mile trail system devoted to this mission, the USNWC offers over 30 land- and water-based activities, including whitewater rafting, kayaking, paddle boarding, mountain biking, rope courses, and more.
They also provide outdoor instruction and certification programs, they host events, films, festivals, and more, and they cater to guests of all ages, interests, and skill levels. They want visitors to play, relax, and learn, so you’re sure to find respite from the daily grind when you head to USNWC.
Charlotte is a great place to live, work, and play. Visit and explore our spacious Uptown Charlotte apartments’ luxury features, and nearby amenities that make the most of Uptown living.