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| Little Sugar Creek Greenway: view from the balustade |
The many opportunities available to enjoy the outdoors all year round. As mentioned earlier, three parks/greenways lay within 3 miles of my home, each having their own character and life. I can appreciate the unique qualities and opportunities for outdoor activities presented by each one. My two favorite, are Little Sugar Creek Greenway and Freedom Park.
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| Little Sugar Creek Greenway: view around fountain |
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| Little Sugar Creek Greeway: view from lower level |
Instead of being one big homogeneous stretch of space that doesn’t encourage much movement, Little Sugar Creek Greenway invites one to venture through it. A walk through here, and one will find a café, a fountain, a modern sculpture, various seating incorporated into the design, a clock tower, various plantings, and a lower level with a stream. Wrapping around the greenway is a traditional simplified balustrade giving it touch of elegance. A view of the cityscape of Uptown Charlotte marks the north end of the greenway, and a clock tower marks the south end. My local Trader Joes is located at the nearby Metropolitan, and I enjoy taking advantage of combining these two activities in one outing. I often find myself here with a good book, or simply to go for a jog.
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| Freedom Park |
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| Freedom Park: amphitheater in the distance |
Freedom Park is also fit for a variety of activities from the solitary and quiet to sports, running, bicycling, concerts, and weddings. With a running trail, amphitheater landscaping, a bandshell, a lake with a fountain, rentable pavilions, and much greenery surrounding it all, there is much that takes place within this park. I like coming here on a nice day to simply enjoy nature, and sometimes do plein air painting. I enjoy being a part of all the activity of families, couples, friends, and individuals coming together from surrounding neighborhoods and enlivening the space with their own way of appreciating the park.
Well designed public outdoor spaces, such as Little Sugar Creek Greenway and Freedom Park here in Charlotte, add much to the quality of life in any given city. They slow down the all too often rushed pace of life. They bring people together, and within them, one is encouraged to linger and appreciate the outdoors however one may choose to, in a safe and welcoming environment.
