Park opens to honor Hugh McColl. Naturally, it’s in the heart of the center city
Banking titan Hugh McColl Jr. will join community members uptown on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the opening of Charlotte’s newest public park, a vibrant green space bearing the name of the civic trailblazer himself.
Tucked into less than an acre at the corner of Trade and Tryon streets, the park sits at the heart of a center city McColl helped shape. Floating cylinders and a mirrored pool have replaced the dilapidated fountain that once marked the site, a design that urban planners say reflects the city’s continued transformation.
“When you come here, you look down, and then you look up,” said landscape architect Walter Hood, who designed the park. “And when you look up and see the skyline, McColl’s responsible.”
The unveiling comes two years after the city demolished Polk Park, a fixture named for Revolutionary War hero Thomas Polk that occupied the site for more than three decades. Historic preservationists have criticized the reconstruction, arguing that the project reflects a broader trend of culturally significant sites handed over to developers with little regard for their historical value.
City officials, however, say Polk Park was beyond repair, citing its aging infrastructure and a persistent rodent problem that made the space unsafe. In response, the city approved a proposal from Charlotte Center City Partners, a nonprofit that worked alongside civic leaders to organize the fundraising effort.
With backing from business and civic leaders, the group raised $14 million, exceeding the original $10 million goal. Part of the funding was used to create an endowment for future improvements, though the city, which paid for the demolition of Polk Park, will remain responsible for routine maintenance.
“We’ve never enjoyed such broad support and ease of private fundraising,” said Michael Smith, CEO of Charlotte Center City Partners. “That’s a reflection of this community’s love of Mr. McColl and their commitment to this park and this idea.”
In March of 2023, the Charlotte City Council approved a plan to transform the park and rename it after McColl, the former Bank of America chairman and CEO widely credited with shaping Charlotte into the city it is today. McColl lives in Eastover, less than four miles from the bank’s 60-story tower in uptown — a project that pushed the city’s growth north of the Square and now overlooks the park that bears his name.
“I’m appreciative, embarrassed to a certain degree,” McColl told The Observer last week. “I think I’m getting more credit than I deserve.”
A longtime champion of the arts, McColl has launched several investment firms focused on supporting Black-owned businesses since his retirement. He advocates for affordable housing, funds scholarships, and recently served as honorary co-chair of the Charlotte Symphony’s record-setting $50 million fundraising campaign.
His belief in community investment has remained central to his legacy. Kieth Cockrell, president of Bank of America in Charlotte, said McColl instilled in the company a responsibility to improve the quality of life for all residents, a value that endures after his tenure.
“What Mr. McColl represents to so many of us is inspiration and the belief to have a vision for something bigger and better,” said Cockrell, as he looked out over the new park. “This will remind us of the impact that one person can have to inspire positive change for all.”
California-based Hood Design Studio unveiled three potential concepts for the park’s redesign last year, each shaped by feedback from earlier community events. One featured a tall vertical sculpture meant to draw the eye toward the uptown skyline. Another centered around a striking, plant-covered structure constructed from aluminum foam.
But it was the third proposal, the design Hood ultimately brought to life, that resonated most. Made of 50 suspended cylinders connected by a cable system and lit by accent lighting, the structure, known as “The Nest,” symbolizes the tenacity and interconnectedness of Charlotte’s residents. Each piece represents a distinct thread in the city’s fabric, coming together to form a unified whole.
“It builds a better society when we’re able to understand one another and celebrate one another, even though there’s differences between us,” said Hood.
Hood grew up in Charlotte, spending hours downtown at the public library and local theater. He said the area felt unfamiliar when he returned a few years ago, the streets of his childhood replaced by statues he didn’t recognize and a corporate atmosphere that felt distant.
Designing the park helped Hood reconcile the tension between his upbringing and the city’s change, and he hopes the space will offer longtime residents a similar chance to reconnect.
“Being able to make a piece of art liberated me from that kind of complexity,” Hood said. “I had a chance to be present back in this place that I grew up.”
Gardens line the park’s perimeter, buffering the space from the street and creating an inviting setting for gatherings. The first event will take place Saturday, when the community is invited to enjoy free live music, food and drinks, and guided tours of the art installation from noon to 4 p.m.
During the celebration, the 100 block of South Tryon Street will be closed between Trade and 4th streets, though Trade and 4th streets will remain open to traffic. After the festivities, Smith hopes the park will become a daily destination to relax, reflect and share lunch with a friend.
“I think we just created an instant landmark for our community,” said Smith. “And that’s tough in a 250-year-old city.”
This story was originally published June 19, 2025 at 5:01 AM.
