Mission

The mission of the Parks and Recreation Department is to provide residents of all ages and abilities positive experiences through a variety of quality activities, facilities, and services under the direction of professional and dedicated staff that are responsive to the changing needs of the community.

About Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation Director Gary Mills, two full-time parks supervisor and eight part-time rangers, manage Bakers Creek Park, Veterans Park (formerly Town Park), Village Park, Walter M Safrit Park, the Kannapolis Cemetery, James Street Neighborhood Park and several City owned properties. A full-time special events and programmer coordinates events, festivals, athletic field uses, and programs for families, children, and senior adults. The Parks and Recreation Department also partners with the Kannapolis YMCA, the Cabarrus Arts Council, the Kannapolis Library and other organizations to provide programs and events. The Parks and Recreation Department Staff also produce a summer concert series each year that draws over 20,000 people from around the Charlotte-region to Kannapolis.

The department achieved new heights with the opening of Walter M. Safrit Park. Safrit Park offers the only lighted soccer field in Cabarrus County, a greenway, playground and two baseball fields. The Village Park amphitheater, the largest amphitheater in Cabarrus County, was the site of the first 2004 Coca Cola Summer Concert Series. Attendance at the summer concert series surpassed 22,000 people from across the Charlotte-region. The award-winning Summer Concert Series will expand to seven shows in 2005. Other department highlights from FY2004 include:

• Maintained five parks and 40 parcels of City-owned land.
  
  
• Managed 395 shelter reservations and 407 athletic field reservations.
  
  
• Received a State Arts and Humanities award for the 2003 Concert in the Park that attracted 9,000 people from across the Charlotte region.
  
  
• Reached 29,000 citizens through 43 programs for children and families, five athletic leagues, and partnerships with the YMCA, Kannapolis Library, Kannapolis Intimidators, and other City departments.
  
  
• Designed the 8th Street Greenway and a multi-purpose building for Village Park.
  
  
• Continued development of the Dale Earnhardt Plaza.
  
  
• Hired the City’s first program and special events coordinator
  
  
• Supplemented six full-time staff and 20 part-time staff with 3,628 hours of community service hours and 3,780 hours of prison labor.