Pond at south Charlotte park prepares for dredging project

CHARLOTTE, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — A south Charlotte park is about to get an underwater makeover. Crews will begin draining and dredging the Park Road Park pond in the fall.

The entire dredging project is expected to take a year.

The park will stay open, but a popular pastime on the pond likely won’t be the same.

‘A lot of other things’

On a hot summer day, just taking in the view takes Zavielle Roseboro back.

“We’ve been coming here since I was a little girl,” said Roseboro seated with a rod and reel. “It’s relaxing, very relaxing, it’s peaceful, I can just relax all day.”

It’s still fun when someone gets a bite.

“We catch brim, bass, catfish,” said Roseboro.

The Park Road Park pond is special.

“We have different spots to go to, but this is our favorite,” said Roseboro.

But every now and then she hooks more than fish.

“Sometimes trash but not too much,” Roseboro explained. “I know it’s a lot of moss, but it probably has a lot of other things there too.”

It’s safe to say the pond could use a good cleaning.

This fall Mecklenburg County will partially drain and dredge the pond.

“It keeps people coming out here because it’s a good trail, it’s good exercise whether you want to run or walk,” said J.R. Harris who was at the park Tuesday with his grandson.

Crews will clean up the water getting rid of trash and debris to protect public health.

“Just keep the community beautiful, keep everybody coming out,” said Harris.

Roseboro might have to fish somewhere else for a bit, but she says the cleanup will be worth the wait.

“We’ll know for sure that it’s freshwater fish, we’ll be able to eat it and knowing the water’s cleaner,” said Roseboro.

The pond at Freedom Park a few miles north will also be drained and dredged, but a timeline for that has not been set.

Mecklenburg County officials are having a virtual meeting at 6 p.m. on July 11 to talk about the dredging at Park Road Park.

To register for the meeting, click here: Pond Dredging – Park Road Park & Freedom Park .

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