Caldwell Park officially reopens
Is it now the best in Cabarrus? You decide
THE FRIDAY FIVE WITH MARK PLEMMONS
Caldwell Park includes the Robert Mathis Amphitheater, named for a longtime Concord City Councilman.
The new splash pad at Marvin Caldwell Park was a welcome addition.
Concord native Chris Miller of the Cabarrus Compass speaks during the panel discussion Wednesday at Southern Strain Brewery.
WSOC-TV's Jason Stoogenke is a consumer affairs reporter and also a licensed attorney and member of the Mecklenburg County Bar.
Several projects across the county made significant steps toward completion this week, including a park opening. Others just got underway.
No. 1 </</span> p>
Marvin Caldwell Park is officially reopened after Concord's complete redevelopment of the park in Logan. The reviews are glowing. The splash pad opened just in time for the hot weather this week.
Here's what's new:
â– City's first splash pad
â– Two covered basketball courts
â– New tennis courts, basketball courts and a baseball field
„■New multipurpose field
â– New shelters throughout the park that are available to rent for celebrations and reunions
â– New playgrounds, including a dedicated sensory play area, and accessibility features for residents of all abilities
â– New amphitheater
â– New restrooms
â– New walking trails and greenway connection I talked with photographer Mike Anderson and The Cabarrus Compass' Chris Miller after the Concord Rotary Club meeting on Wednesday. Our consensus was that Caldwell Park could be the best park in Cabarrus County, and no doubt Concord's best.
Of course, Kannapolis' Village Park and Cabarrus' Frank Liske Park are both great parks, and many others are improving. It's great for all of us.
No. 2
Miller, WSOC-TV's consumer affairs reporter Jason Stoogenke and I spoke on a local media panel at the Concord Rotary Club. Zack Moretz moderated the panel.
We discussed the importance of local news and industry-related issues. It was a good discussion, and lots of good questions were posed.
It was a pretty full room over at Southern Strain Brewery. There were a good number of people more than when I spoke to the group a couple of years ago.
Years ago, Concord Rotary would fill the ballroom at Hotel Concord for its weekly meeting.
No. 3
More than three years and millions of dollars later, the Rogers Lake Bridge over South Main Street and the railroad tracks opened Thursday.
The N.C. Department of Transportation shifted traffic onto the new bridge where Rogers Lake Road crosses the North Carolina Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway, permanently closing the at-grade railroad crossing.
The change eliminates conflicts between trains and vehicles, reducing delays for drivers who previously had to wait for passing trains. It is also expected to reduce train horn noise while supporting both existing freight rail traffic and future passenger rail service.
The bridge is part of a $16.3 million project that began in late 2022. The remaining work is expected to be completed later this fall.
No. 4
Drivers in Harrisburg are facing a road closure as work gets underway on improvements tied to a new subdivision. A portion of Tom Query Road closed on Thursday.
The N.C. Department of Transportation said Tom Query Road will be closed between Tottenham Drive and Robinson Church Road for approximately three weeks. The project includes realigning the intersection by about 450 to 500 feet and installing a new traffic signal at the corner of Tom Query and Robinson Church roads.
A signed detour will direct motorists along Caldwell Road, N.C. 49, Harrisburg Veterans Parkway, Stallings Road and Robinson Church Road before reconnecting with Tom Query Road.
Local traffic will continue to have access to subdivision roads up to Windsor Forest Place and Tottenham Drive via Caldwell Road.
Motorists can check current traffic conditions at DriveNC.gov or through NCDOT's social media channels.
No. 5
On a disappointing note, I drove through the Farmington development in Harrisburg this week. The developers proclaimed this was going to be another "Birkdale" like the big multi-use development in Huntersville.
It's not. Far from it. Yes, they got DairO, something new for the area, but beyond that, it seems far from special. It is packed with houses and apartments and one little strip of commercial development.
There were naysayers before it began. It looks like they were right.
There is a good bit of undeveloped property, so maybe it will get better.
The property across Rocky River Road from Farmington is a nice-looking brick commercial and office development. The Farmington side looks funky.
The commercial development has white clapboard siding. They are going for a farmhouse look, but to me, it just looks odd.
Let me leave with a positive. The development has good sidewalks, and it is adding to the city's greenways.
If you have a Friday Five, story suggestion, or something I can rant about, email mplemmons@independenttribune.com or call or text 704-786-0001.
