The following article appeared in the January 12, 2026, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.
Freedom Park pond cleaning to begin this month; Park Road Park pond dredging was a success
Early construction activity has begun at Freedom Park as Mecklenburg County moves forward with a long-planned effort to clean up the park’s cloudy (and unnaturally colorful) pond.
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation told The Ledger that a contractor’s surveyor was scheduled to begin preliminary site work at Freedom Park last week. While a specific start date on the dredging process has not been shared with the county, the contractor expects to begin in mid-January, and the project will continue into the summer.
Dredging involves removing sediment, trash and debris that have built up at the bottom of the pond over decades, contributing to recurring blue-green algae blooms that can pose health risks to people and pets.
The park will remain open during construction, but officials say visitors should expect some temporary disruptions, according to the project’s website. Intermittent trail closures are also expected on the south and west sides of the pond, and the parking lot at Whittington Field will close from mid-January through Feb. 21.
The Freedom Park project follows dredging work at Park Road Park, where hydraulic dredging began in March 2025 and was completed in late 2025. That method allowed crews to remove sediment without fully draining the pond.
Freedom Park’s pond, built in 1948, had never been dredged before this project. Officials say removing the accumulated material should improve water clarity, reduce odors and create a healthier environment for fish, wildlife and park goers. —Lindsey Banks
Related Ledger articles:
“County to drain two ‘gross’ park ponds” (Sept. 11, 2024)
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