CHARLOTTE, N.C. —The Interstate 77 South Express Lanes project could threaten nearly a dozen Mecklenburg County parks, greenways and the local environment, according to county leaders.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is proposing building toll lanes along an 11-mile stretch of I-77 from Uptown Charlotte to South Carolina. According to Mecklenburg County leaders, if the project moves forward as proposed, 11 county parks would be disrupted by the toll lane’s expansion. Wilmore Park and Frazier Park would see the biggest impacts. Frazier Park’s tennis courts, basketball courts and dog park would need to be relocated or removed. Wilmore Park would be eliminated.
“There would really be no functional park remaining in this location,” said Bert Lynn, Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation’s Capital Planning Division director…