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Independence Park
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
7 reviews for Independence Park
I didn't spend much time outdoors when I lived in the West Texas area. However, my relationship with the outdoors is definitely changing since moving to Charlotte. I am really enjoying parks! Who knew public, outdoor space could be such a retreat to the senses?!
Independence Park is a great place to find tranquility, calm, and relaxation. The day I went it was not very crowded (in comparison to Freedom Park). There were benches and tables that provide space for you to have a picnic or read a book.
As you walk along the stretch of pathways and grass, there are also basketball courts and play equipment for the kiddos. There is another section that has a gazebo and looks like people could have small wedding ceremonies there (I think a rehearsal was happening when I was there).
It's a beautiful space and gives you another excuse to go outside!
Reviewing your neighborhood park is a little bit like reviewing your own back yard. Sure, there are things you'd change if you had the time or patience, but hey.. it's home. I feel a little bit this way about Independence Park, which stretches across Hawthorne Lane almost to the CPCC campus on one side, and extends well down 7th Street on the other. I live in Elizabeth and walk there on an almost daily basis.
Independence Park is, essentially, two parks. Incidentally, it is also the oldest of Charlotte's original city parks, having opened in 1904. Here's an item for you trivia fans: Where did Independence Boulevard (Charlotte's first "expressway") get its name? Answer: from Independence Park. Until the late 1940s, much of the park was located in the corridor where the Charlottetown/Independence name change occurs.
The north side of the park, on which Elizabeth Traditional Elementary School rests, is the action-oriented end of the park: there are ballfields, a track and jungle gym equipment that also serves as the school's playground. This end of the park also has an awesome view of the city skyline. It's also a place where team sports, both kid and adult, are practiced and played. The tennis courts are rather tucked away toward the Armory. Because of the school component, this end of the park is generally busy. The Hawthorne Recreation Center, located on Hawthorne Lane, is leased primarily for table-tennis league play.
The south end of the park on the other side of Hawthorne Lane is the "neighborhood" side of the park. With mature trees and large camellia bushes, it is both calm, quiet, and often a little overlooked. The rose garden on the park's far south end is well-tended and lovely. I've seen many brides-to-be having wedding portraits snapped there.
Two minor concerns: the first may well be addressed with plans currently in the works between city planners and Elizabeth residents. The south end of the park lacks much kid-friendly play space, which is important to residents who'd like to take their wee ones to play in an area not surrounded by older school-aged children. The second: there are no decent water fountains for four-legged companions. From personal experience with my own dog, I've received my share of dirty looks when I've held up my pooch to sip from the fountain (hey, I don't let her lick the metal!). I recently noticed that the park's north side has installed a pooch fountain, but it wasn't working. No points for that, but perhaps with warmer weather this will change.
All in all, Independence Park, my neighborhood park, isn't "perfect," but then part of its charm is its authenticity, its history, and its span from the tree-lined suburban to the panoramic urban side. I say it's A-OK, with room to improve.
I think this would be a great place for a wedding. It's nearby my first Charlotte apartment, and I used to take my doggy there when she was a wee-lass of a pup, so I have fond memories of this beautiful park and my wedding fantasies. The rose garden and the gazebo I think are responsible for the wedding delusions.
It's near enough to uptown to make a reasonable place to have a little picnic lunch. I enjoy packing my lunch and finding somewhere nice outside to sit and eat to get a little break from socializing when I'm in an office all day. The slight dip down from the road and the tall trees helps you to forget that you're in the middle of a city. It's a great mini-getaway.
Independence Park is a nice stretch of green nicely tucked away amongst townhomes and houses near Presbyterian Hospital.
Plenty of walking paths with intermittent gardens and plenty of large, leafy trees make it a good place to enjoy a picnic, take the dog for a walk and/or play frisbee or throw football.
There is also apparently a nice owl population in the park, which is kind of nice. It's always entertaining to have some wildlife in the city.
I really like taking my dogs here. The grass is really nice and not overly used like some other parks. The landscape is cared for- but looks natural. It's a great little escape from the city, but very close to the hustle and bustle of Uptown. It's big enough where you can walk around and hang out for a few hours, maybe bring some food and have a picnic or read a book.
This is a really great little slice of heaven in the middle of the city. It has some great walking paths and is perfect for taking the dog for a stroll. My favorite part is the beautiful gardens, it's fun to just go and explore. There are also statues and playgrounds so the whole family can find something to do.
Independence Park is a cute, mid-sized neighborhood park and I wish Charlotte had more parks like it. It's great for taking a nice walk. And it's in the middle of the city, but at a lower elevation so it feels a little hidden and sheltered from the street traffic. I went to a craft fair at the park recently, which made for a great afternoon of art and enjoying the sunshine.
