Weddington opens park debate to residents at Sept. 19 session

Weddington residents will get their first formal chance to shape the proposed town hall park at a public open house Saturday, Sept. 19, at Weddington Middle School.

The four-hour session, running from 1 to 5 p.m. at 5903 Deal Rd., is billed as an idea-gathering exercise. No decisions will be made that day. Mayor Jim Bell told the Enquirer-Journal the purpose is to collect resident ideas and priorities.

The session arrives amid sharp debate. More than 500 people have signed a petition opposing the project, the newspaper reported Sept. 11. The park would sit on a 3.3-acre lot next to town hall, and the Enquirer-Journal has reported an estimated price tag of $10 million. Proposed features include an amphitheater, playground, pavilion, park trail, pollinator garden, restrooms and a meeting room.

Weddington's annual operating budget is roughly $3.16 million, according to figures adopted at the June 8 council meeting.

Not everyone sees the need. At a Jan. 12 council meeting, resident Tracy Stone cited 2023 survey data showing minimal public support for parks and questioned the $230,000 spent on park planning.

"Regardless of which way the wheel turns, the town of Weddington definitely wants community input on this," Bell told the Enquirer-Journal on Sept. 11.

The town has framed the open space as Weddington's "living room," a central gathering place for events and everyday use, according to a town announcement posted Sept. 10.

What to expect

The agenda breaks into four blocks:

1–1:30 p.m. Welcome and overview
1:30–2:30 p.m. Interactive pin-up for ideas, priorities and recommendations
2:30–4:30 p.m. Roundtable charrette discussions
4:30–5 p.m. Closing comments and key takeaways

LaBella Associates, the planning firm hired by the town, will be on hand. The council voted July 13 to approve a $20,000 contract with LaBella for the next phase of work, the newspaper reported.

Remote participation

Residents who cannot make the session can email feedback to [email protected] or download and submit a "My Park Story Sheet" via email. The town says all comments, whether submitted in person or online, will be reviewed as part of the planning process.

Funding backdrop

The town holds about $250,000 in state grant funds earmarked for the park. The N.C. Office of State Budget and Management granted a one-year extension on that money, according to June 8 council meeting minutes. At a February council retreat, members emphasized that park development would not be funded through tax-rate increases but through reserve funds and matching grants.

Mayor Pro Tem Tom Smith said at the June 8 meeting that the public engagement component is only a portion of the total LaBella contract, with the larger share covering architectural redesign work.

The Sept. 19 session is labeled "Public Engagement Session No. 1," suggesting the town plans additional rounds of input. No dates for future sessions have been announced.