MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — Charlotte and Mecklenburg County scored among the lowest for adequate parks and greenways in a new report from Trust for Public Land.
The Queen City was stacked up against other metros across the country, when comparing parks and green spaces.
Before getting to the numbers there's some checkered history to keep in mind. Safety has been a major concern for residents wanting to use the greenways.
WCNC Charlotte has covered several incidents reported at greenways in recent months -- including a shooting in April.
Advocacy groups have joined the call for more safety, too.
"If people aren't feeling safe using the greenways, then they're not going to use them ... and that would kind of defeat the purpose of it," Jesús De La Torre with RUN CLT said. "Call to action is just try to have people be cognizant about it, and people recognize it, and the decision makers to realize that there are issues that can't be overlooked."
In the ParkScore Rankings from Trust for Public Land, Charlotte-Mecklenburg came in at No. 87 in a list of 100 this year.
The area scored low because most residents don't live within a 10-minute walk of a park. That's even though it did score high for having parks with more acres.
In a city full of furry friends, the area is ranking too low on amenities like dog parks and basketball hoops.
Finally, there's one aspect many people may not consider: Equity. That's the distribution of parks according to race and income. Charlotte ranks low in accessibility for people of color and people with lower incomes.
Contact Kia Murray at kmurray@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.