CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With hot weather here, Charlotte is looking for ways to stay cool. From community pools to splash pads and water parks, there are plenty of options to soak up the sun while beating the heat in the Queen City.
Community pools
Mecklenburg County public pools, including Ramsey Creek Beach at Lake Norman, opened on Memorial Day weekend The county plans to operate two public pools all summer. The public facilities will remain open until Labor Day.
- Cordelia Pool, located at 2100 N. Davidson St.: Weekends only from May 25 through June 9. Starting June 10, Cordelia will be open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 6 p.m. There is a $2 entry fee and two swim sessions from noon until 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Double Oaks Family Aquatic Center, located at 2014 Statesville Ave.: Weekends only from May 25 until June 9. From June 10 through Labor Day, Double Oaks will be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 6 p.m.
Both facilities will offer free swim lessons throughout the summer beginning June 24. Registration opens on June 22. Click here for more information.
Beaches
Ramsey Creek Beach, located at 18441 Nantz Road, will be open on weekends from May 25 through June 9. Beginning June 12, Ramsey Creek Beach will begin summer hours of noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The beach will be open on Memorial Day, Juneteenth and July Fourth.
Admission fees vary based on age and whether you're a Mecklenburg County resident. Prices range from free to $15 per car on weekends for non-residents.
Weekdays:
- $5.00 entry fee per car for county residents
- $10.00 entry fee per car for non-residents
Weekends:
- $10.00 entry fee per car for residents
- $15.00 entry fee per car for non-residents
Fees
- Walk-ins age 6 and under: Free
- Walk-ins 6-13: $3.00
- Walk-Ins 14 and up: $5.00
- Beach Shuttle Passengers (Holiday Weekends Only): Free
Splash Pads
Many communities in the Charlotte area have splash pads in parks for families to enjoy the outdoors without getting too hot. Don't see your local splash pad listed? Text us at 704-329-3600 and we'll add them to our list!
Charlotte
- Latta Splash Park: 601 E. Park Ave
- Nevin Park Splash Park: 6000 Statesville Road
- Clarks Creek Park: 5435 Hucks Road
- Cordelia Park: 600 E. 24th Street
- Elizabeth Park: 101 North Kings Drive
- First Ward Park: 301 E. 7th Street
- Romare Bearden Park: 300 S. Church Street
- Veterans Park: 2136 Central Ave.
- West Charlotte Park: 24014 Kendall Drive
Clover
New Centre Park: 501 Memorial Drive
Gastonia
Lineberger Park: 632 East Garrison Boulevard
Harrisburg
Harrisburg Splash Pad: 191 Sims Parkway (Pre-registration recommended)
Indian Trail
Crooked Creek Park: 5900 Oakwood Lane
Kannapolis
Village Park: 700 West C Street
Kings Mountain
Patriots Park: 220 South Railroad Avenue
Lincoln County
Beatty's Ford Park: 8335 Shipley Lane, Denver
West Lincoln Park: 369 Hulls Grove Church Road, Vale
Mooresville
Hope Park: 170 Joe Knox Boulevard
Liberty Park: 217 East Iredell Avenue
Salisbury
Dan Nicholas Park: 6900 Bringle Ferry Road
Carowinds' Carolina Harbor
Carowinds' water park features everything from huge water slides to wave pools and a three-acre kids' area. There's something for everyone, and every Carowinds ticket guarantees guests admission to Carolina Harbor for a full day of fun.
Free fans
Free fans are available to North Carolinians who are 60 and older. They are also available to adults with disabilities. Sign up for assistance at local aging agencies across the state.
For more details, individuals may contact their area agency on aging or the Division of Aging at 919-855-3400.
Beginning Thursday, June 20, at 9 a.m., Mecklenburg County residents 60 years and older, and adults ages 18 to 59 who receive disability income, can register to pick up a fan. Registration will be available online or by calling one of the eight pickup locations. Fans will be available for pickup starting June 26 at these locations:
- Albemarle Road Recreation Center, 5027 Idlewild Road North in Charlotte, 980-314-1101
- David B. Waymer Recreation Center, 14008 Holbrooks Road in Huntersville, 980-314-1127
- Eastway Regional Recreation Center, 3150 Eastway Park Drive in Charlotte, 980-314-3772
- Northern Regional Recreation Center, 18121 Old Statesville Road in Cornelius, 980-314-6772
- Southview Recreation Center, 1720 Vilma St. in Charlotte, 980-314-1105
- Sugaw Creek Recreation Center, 943 W. Sugaw Creek Road in Charlotte, 980-314-1124
- Tyvola Senior Center, 2225 Tyvola Road in Charlotte, 980-314-1320
- West Charlotte Recreation Center, 2401 Kendall Drive in Charlotte, 980-314-1120
Walk-up requests will not be accepted. Fans are limited to one per person.
How to save on energy costs
Duke Energy says thermostats play a big role in driving up costs.
The company recommends setting the thermostat as high as comfortably possible while at-home and set it to 80 degrees when no one is in the house.
It's also important to change air filters. A clogged air filter can impact homes and lead to higher energy bills.
"When you think about your blinds or your curtains, if you have those on the sunny side of your house, make sure those are closed because the sun actually acts as like a natural, kind of greenhouse and it’s going to heat up your home," Logan Stewart, a spokesperson for Duke Energy, said. "If you keep those closed, that’ll keep that heat out unnecessarily. If you have ceiling fans, those are a great tool to use.”
Duke Energy also has resources available to help those struggling with payments. Those can be found on the company's website.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Libraries:
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library locations are generally open to the public from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Click the following link for branch information Branches & Areas of Interest | Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (cmlibrary.org)
Do's and don'ts for kid water safety
Margot Payne, a swim instructor for over 29 years, said the worst thing a parent can do is put their kids in floaties. Payne told WCNC Charlotte floaties are designed to keep a child above water vertically. She said during swimming, you want to be horizontal in the water.
“The floaties give the child a false sense of security,” Payne said.
Ame Guy, association director of aquatics for YMCA of Greater Charlotte, previously told WCNC Charlotte parents on the sidelines need to put their phones away and pay attention because a child can go underwater silently in a matter of seconds.
In North Carolina, data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in 2020 showed that 24 children died of accidental drowning. Seven of those drownings - about a third - happened in a pool.
The YMCA of Greater Charlotte is encouraging parents to enroll kids in swim lessons, know their child’s skill level in the water, make sure they’re wearing the appropriate flotation devices, and appoint a water watcher at all times.
Know the signs of heat stroke
If you start to feel sick, go indoors to cool down quickly.
“If you start feeling like you’re overheating, getting light-headed, dizzy, maybe slightly nauseated, you should definitely try to get indoors," Dr. Radoslava Djigrova with Novant Health said. "Hydrate very well. Maybe, grab a towel, soak it in cold water and put it around your neck or head.”
Experts say it's critical to know the signs of heat stroke. Those symptoms include throbbing headache, not sweating, red, hot and dry skin and a body temperature above 103 degrees. Other symptoms are a rapid pulse and a loss of consciousness.
If you experience any of these symptoms while outdoors, you should call 911 immediately.
"You will often start to notice that you feel a sense of tiredness, sluggishness, if you will. Your mouth may become dry and these are all signs that you’re starting to become overheated. Often times people will have difficulty thinking as clearly," Dr. Chris Branner with Atrium Health said. "Recognizing these early signs are very important because some of the later signs ... can be very dangerous."
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