Reimagined McColl Park design takes shape Uptown

CHARLOTTE CENTER CITY PARTNERS

An artist rendering of the reimagined McColl Park in Charlotte's Center City. The park design committee approved the design created by Walter Hood, a Charlotte native and Oakland, California, landscape designer. Construction started in July and the public debut is scheduled for summer 2025.

The reimagined McColl Park has a nesting vibe.

The park’s design committee unveiled a concept for the public space at the intersection of Trade and Tryon streets. The design, called “The Nest,” is a nod to the city’s history, culture, and legacy of Hugh McColl, the retired Bank of America CEO and philanthropist who made a major impact on Charlotte’s social and cultural fabric.

“The design pays homage to its history and weaves in a narrative of a collective future,” Walter Hood, a Charlotte native and landscape designer who led the park’s redesign said in a statement. Hood, owner of Hood Design Studio in Oakland, California, is also a professor at the University of California Berkeley.

Among his company’s notable projects is the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina and Discovery Place Nature Museum in Charlotte.

The updated design includes:

• Hornets’ Nest tribute with suspended logs, reaching 56 feet high that evoke the city’s link to the Revolutionary War.

• Multi-season gardens that showcase the diversity of plant species and textures.

• Gathering spaces with permanent benches and movable tables and chairs that invite interactivity and social connection.

• An interactive slip-resistant water feature that can be transformed into an open area for gatherings or events by draining the water.

“Community engagement has been central to the design of McColl Park,” park committee co-chair Cyndee Patterson said. “Through public input sessions, surveys, open houses, and focus groups, we’ve ensured the park's design reflects the community's needs and aspirations and celebrates Hugh McColl’s enduring impact on our city.”

Construction started in July and the park’s grand opening is planned for next summer, which coincides with McColl’s 90th birthday.

“Hugh McColl’s legacy will shine bright at McColl Park, a vibrant space inspiring connection and joy, and a fitting tribute to a true community champion,” committee co-chair Malcomb Coley said.

On the Net:

McCollPark.org

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