SouthPark unveils plan for Symphony Park in Charlotte. What will it cost city?
A south Charlotte group wants to renovate a popular park and concert venue, and they’re seeking millions in city money to help make it happen.
SouthPark Community Partners made its pitch Monday to renovate Symphony Park. The nonprofit manages the SouthPark Municipal Service District, which levies taxes to pay for marketing and improvements.
Located at the corner of Barclay Downs Drive and Carnegie Boulevard adjacent to SouthPark Mall, Symphony Park is home to events that include the SouthPark After Five concert series and the Charlotte Symphony’s Summer Pops series.
Under the plan presented Monday to the Charlotte City Council’s economic development committee., the 7.4-acre park would get a new plaza, entrance, lawn spaces and a renovated band shell. The plan also calls for two new restaurants, retail space, children’s play areas, public art and public restrooms.
The project would connect Symphony Park to the SouthPark Loop urban trail through a new trail segment and bridges.
It’s part of SouthPark Community Partners’ SouthPark Forward 2035 Vision Plan, which calls for $250 million in public and private investment over the next 10 years to make the neighborhood more walkable and create more community gathering spaces.
The Symphony Park project would be paid for by:
$5 million raised by SouthPark Community Partners
$8 million from Simon Property Group, which owns SouthPark Mall
$8 million from the city of Charlotte
The city’s contribution would come from bond money already dedicated for capital projects in the SouthPark area.
SouthPark Community Partners hopes to begin construction in the summer of 2026 and complete the work at the park by the summer of 2027. The group would operate and manage programming at the park through an agreement with Simon Property Group, which would manage the leases for the new restaurants.
The nonprofit would lead the design and construction of the park improvements, retail, restrooms and the Loop segment, while Simon Property Group would design and construct the restaurants and outdoor spaces.
City Council member Tariq Bokhari, whose District 6 includes SouthPark, called the plan’s unveiling a “major milestone” years in the making.
“Symphony Park can serve as the Grand Central Station,” he said.
Council member Ed Driggs said he’s generally supportive of the proposal, noting the requested city funding is already “essentially earmarked” for SouthPark. But he questioned what, if any, involvement Mecklenburg County will have in the project. The county oversees parks and recreation.
“I would be happier sharing that burden with the county,” Driggs said.
SouthPark Community Partners President and CEO Adam Rhew told the committee conversations with the county about its involvement are “ongoing.”
County Commissioner Laura Meier, whose District 5 includes the park, told The Charlotte Observer she’s met with Rhew and coordinated conversations with the county’s parks department, but it’s “too early to commit anything right now.”
“Mecklenburg County already has so many park-poor areas, high-needs parks and projects that have already been voted on and are first in line, that our involvement in Symphony Park is not yet clear at this time,” she said.
County Commissioner Elaine Powell, a vocal advocate for parks and green space, told the Observer she hasn’t seen the plan and doesn’t know what involvement the county could have. But, she added, the county’s parks department has “some of the top experts in the United States” if SouthPark needs guidance
The Observer also has contacted county staff for comment on the plan.
This story was originally published April 7, 2025 at 1:57 PM.
