CHARLOTTE — Residents in south Charlotte’s Madison Park community are raising concerns over a development proposal that would convert Madison Central Park into athletic fields.
The project has drawn opposition from local homeowners who are pushing to keep the park in its current form.
The park sits on property owned by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and is located directly next door to Pinewood Elementary.
Currently featuring a playground and open greenspace, the property is being eyed by the Dilworth Youth Sports Association, which submitted a proposal to the school district to redevelop the grounds into athletic fields, including up to three baseball diamonds and batting cages.
Opponents of the proposed overhaul have posted “Save Madison Central Park” signs throughout the neighborhood to signal their resistance.
Will Clark, a south Charlotte resident supporting the campaign, said residents were caught off guard by the plans.
“This is our community neighborhood park; we certainly didn’t ask for baseball fields to be built over there,” Clark said. “It seems that we were the last to know about it.”
Kristina Fine, a resident of the Madison Park community and member of the “Save Madison Central Park” group, expressed frustration over how the details emerged.
“We found out that there was an executed agreement for up to three baseball diamonds and batting cages,” Fine said. “We’re not against youth sports. From our perspective, it looks like a land grab.”
Fine noted that neighbors want comprehensive evaluations before any changes move forward.
“We’re just asking for proof that it’s for our community and that it won’t negatively impact our community,” Fine said, calling for “traffic studies, parking studies, wildlife, noise, stormwater.”
She added that community trust has been damaged: “We think that once they have a stake in that land, they’re not going to stop, so at this point, we want our park to be preserved to be the same.”
Officials with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools stated that no plans have been approved.
District representatives said they are actively engaging with neighbors and listening to all suggestions regarding potential compromises and alternative concepts for the site.
Nearly a dozen neighbors plan to speak at next Tuesday’s school board meeting to voice their concerns directly to district leadership.
Residents are pushing for school board members to hold a formal vote on the proposal rather than allowing district administrators to approve it internally.
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