Newsletter 8/3: Play ball — but where?

Today is Monday, August 3, 2026. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.

Today’s Charlotte Ledger is sponsored by T.R. Lawing Realty:

Good morning! It’s Tony. A growing city has a lot of needs: roads, schools, houses … and youth sports fields. In our lead story today, Emily Brietz examines the crunch on Little League baseball fields and how two leagues are coping with demand that is outstripping available places to play. And we examine the effort by Charlotte businesses to stop a potential ban on THC seltzers, dig into numbers on local home sales and tip our cap to three of our writers who recently won journalism awards. Oh, and Joe Bruno of WSOC found a Charlotte coffee mug at the airport that shows a part of Charlotte that I guarantee you’ve never seen. Enjoy!

by Emily Brietz

For generations, putting on a baseball cap and running out of the dugout onto the diamond has been a rite of passage for many children.

But in parts of Charlotte, some families are hearing an unexpected answer when they try to sign up for T-ball or machine pitch: There isn't enough room.

Registration numbers at Dilworth Little League and Myers Park Trinity Little League have risen dramatically in the past five years, putting a major strain on their resources. 

The challenge reflects a broader issue across Mecklenburg County over the past few years. The Charlotte Ledger previously reported that county officials are struggling to acquire land for new athletic fields as development accelerates, available land dwindles and costs rise, leaving youth sports organizations competing for limited space. It’s an issue that’s only growing — and faster than the county or youth baseball leagues can keep up. 

The need for more baseball fields is mostly for younger kids, said Chris Pineno, president of Dilworth Youth Sports Association. Dilworth has added 20 Little League teams in the past five years to accommodate the influx. There were 16 machine pitch and 12 T-ball teams alone last season.

“Demand is up, supply is down and that has caused us to really feel those growing pains and look for ways to get access to new fields,” Pineno said. “But the reality is there are no fields to get access to.”

Initially, leagues were able to squeeze another player on a team or move a practice earlier to fit another one in before it gets dark. 

Rich Little, president of Myers Park Trinity, said to think of Little League registration like a nice restaurant: packed every night, reservation only. Maybe another table for two can fit in the corner by the kitchen, but suddenly it’s become loud, overcrowded and they're short on wait staff.

“Do you keep adding kids and reducing practices and sharing fields?” Little said. “What does that do to the quality of the experience?”

So, leagues begin looking for more fields to play on.

DYSA uses three fields off East Boulevard and Jim B. Whittington Field at Freedom Park, as well as locations farther away such as Sedgefield Middle School, Southview Recreation Center and Independence Park, but Pineno says it’s not enough.

The league says it has exhausted nearly every alternative, from partnering with churches and schools to sending teams to parks across Charlotte and doubling up practices on existing fields. Even if fields outside of the Dilworth area are available, parents may still have to drive 30 minutes in rush-hour traffic to make a 5:30 p.m. practice, Little said.

Pineno said Dilworth Youth Sports Association is moving to plan B: building its own fields.

That’s easier said than done in Charlotte, a city in dire need of green space and with other priorities for the limited land.

Over the past seven years, when Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation asks residents what green space they are looking for, the public requests dog parks, pickleball courts and mountain biking courses — not fields for children’s sports.

Kip Kiser, chair of the county’s Park and Rec Commission, said the 13-person commission has historically been unanimous in advocating for sports fields in Charlotte.

“We're not against whatever else,” he said. “We're just wanting balance and the recognition that [the issue] exists.”

DYSA financed a backstop, which Park and Rec has installed, along with bases for T-ball teams at Latta Park, down the hill from St. Patrick Catholic School. About seven years ago, DYSA also collaborated with Park Road Baptist to improve its field.

DYSA is hoping to build two small baseball fields at Madison Central Park, adjacent to Pinewood Elementary. The park is CMS property and has “an unusual amount of open space” and flat land perfect for a baseball field, Pineno said.

Pineno said CMS has indicated that it’s “open” to the plan and that DYSA has an agreement with CMS for the property, but it’s not clear yet what each group would contribute toward the project. If the fields are built, DYSA would not have to pay any rent for use of the field but would have to allow the schools priority in scheduling and pay for specialized maintenance. 

Phase one, Pineno said, is to build two skinned (all dirt) infields with backstops. Eventually, phase two would include adding a third field, permanent bathrooms, concession stands and an equipment room.

DYSA has received some pushback from the community about the potential disturbance to the neighborhood, but Pineno is working to quell the neighborhood’s anxieties and get them on board before any decisions are made. Once he gets more community support, a timeline for the new fields will be established, Pineno said. 

The fields would not have lights and would only be used by young children, meaning most games or practices would end around 7 p.m. Additionally, the baseball season spans five months each year — March through May and September through October. 

“What we've seen, certainly at Freedom Park and other locations, is that families want their kids to have access to these athletic programs and being close to them is potentially value enhancement to their house values,” Pineno said. “That could be a very valuable community amenity.” 

Emily Brietz is a summer intern for The Ledger. She is a rising junior at UNC Chapel Hill, double-majoring in media and journalism, and history with a concentration in U.S. studies. Reach her at [email protected].

Today’s supporting sponsor is Landon A. Dunn, attorney-at-law in Matthews:

North Carolina producers of THC seltzers, including several Charlotte breweries, want consumers of the cannabis-infused drinks to know that the state legislature could vote to ban them — maybe as soon as this week.

More than 80 businesses, including 16 in Charlotte, have written a letter opposing the General Assembly’s move to ban most hemp products. The legislation, which passed the N.C. Senate last month and is being considered by the N.C. House, is aimed at cracking down on intoxicating products that are mostly unregulated.

But breweries, bars and hemp businesses say the drinks are popular and should be regulated in a way that still allows them to be sold instead of banned.

“Our ask is to regulate these products with common sense regulations, just like beer, wine and liquor are,” said Jacob Virgil, president of NoDa Brewing. He says craft breweries are already facing hard times because of consumers’ move away from beer, and seltzers represent a promising alternative.

NoDa Brewing launched a line of THC seltzers last year called Happy Bird, which are marketed as all-natural, alcohol-free drinks with no sugar or calories and that have “just the right amount of full-spectrum THC to lift your spirits.” Seltzer sales are growing and make up 11% of NoDa’s revenue, Virgil said.

Other Charlotte businesses calling on the legislature to regulate hemp instead of banning it include Wooden Robot Brewery, Common Market-Plaza Midwood, Gourmand, Hi-Wire Brewing, Hoppin’ Charlotte, Resident Culture Brewing, Super Abari Game Bar and Tryon Distributing.

The House could vote on the legislation as soon as this week, WUNC reported. The businesses plan to head to Raleigh on Tuesday to make their case to legislators.

Last year, the federal government passed restrictions on intoxicating hemp products, including THC beverages, that are set to take effect in November, although repealing that language has support from the Trump administration. Even if the federal measure is repealed, the products would still be illegal in North Carolina if the state bans them.

In covering the issue since last year, The Ledger has also reported that N.C. hemp growers say they worry about their future if tight restrictions pass and that doctors are noticing more teenagers winding up in the hospital with problems connected to cannabis use, at least in part because of widely available THC products. —Tony Mecia

Related Ledger article:

Charlotte has seen among the biggest increases annually in how long homes are sitting on the market, speaking to how quickly buying and selling homes has changed post-Covid boom.

Data from Re/Max found the average Charlotte home spent 49 days on the market in June, up 11.9% (from 44 days) from the same time a year ago. Although it’s quite a contrast from the Covid-era housing market, in which homes were on the market for an average of eight to 10 days, Charlotte still isn’t considered a buyer’s market.

Re/Max analyzed 47 U.S. markets in June. Although on the higher end of all markets when looking strictly at the number of days, Charlotte’s 49 days are a far cry from San Antonio’s average of 86 days or Miami’s 77 days.

Tiffany Johannes, general manager and broker-in-charge of RE/MAX Executive in Charlotte, told The Ledger that interest rates and more inventory are prompting buyers to look at multiple options before making an offer. Buyers continue to shy away from homes that will soon need significant upgrades, such as a new roof or HVAC system.

Johannes noted that a lot of homebuilding took place in Charlotte in the early 2000s, which means a lot of those homes are likely to soon need costly replacements.

She said her agents are seeing more multiple-offer situations in the $1M-plus price range — even in the $2M-$3M price point — because those buyers are less reliant on a mortgage to purchase a home.

There was an uptick in buying activity in Charlotte in May and June, which has since slowed. Johannes attributed that to mortgage rates but also rising oil prices and the upcoming midterm elections.

“Anytime you have any combination of that happening, you see more buyers pausing,” she said.

Homes on the market in great shape in places like Myers Park, SouthPark, Lake Norman and Fort Mill tend to be selling for under the 49-day average mark, while the University area and outskirts of the region have been averaging higher, according to Johannes. While the metro’s fringe areas have become more popular because of the affordable prices they offer, commutes are “building up a little bit” for potential buyers, she said, paired with higher mortgage rates.

Johannes said while 49 days on the market may seem like a lot, it’s not necessarily a long time when considering the 30 to 40 years that Re/Max has been tracking the market. Inventory in the Charlotte metro is 1.6 months’ supply, still well below what’s considered a balanced buyer-seller market threshold of six months. —Ashley Fahey

We’re pleased to tell you that several of The Charlotte Ledger’s regular writers have won awards honoring the best journalism in the Southeastern U.S.

Our assistant editor, Lindsey Banks, along with regular contributors Carroll Walton and Lawrence Toppman, won “Green Eyeshade Awards” for work that appeared in The Ledger in 2025:

Other Charlotte-area winners were former Charlotte magazine editor Greg Lacour’s work in The Assembly covering ICE’s presence in Charlotte, The Charlotte Observer’s in-depth look at data centers and four awards for WTVI PBS Charlotte’s news magazine show “Carolina Impact.”

The Green Eyeshade Awards, in their 76th year, are run by the Society of Professional Journalists and recognize “the very best journalism” across 12 Southern states. The odd name refers to the visors worn by old-time newspaper workers.

The Ledger traditionally enters only a few journalism contests, focusing on national and Southern regional awards rather than statewide ones. In our business, readers are the ultimate judges of the work we do, and building a successful local media company through smart, honest and thoughtful journalism is rewarding in itself. Still, we're grateful to be recognized by our peers for publishing work they consider to be first-rate. —Tony Mecia

Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5: “MakerSpace Charlotte Open House,” 7-9 p.m., at MakerSpace Charlotte, 1003 Louise Ave., Suite A. Come take a tour of MakerSpace Charlotte and see what you can make as a member. You will get to socialize and learn more about the wood shop, pottery studio, stained glass lab, fiber studio, 3D printers, laser cutters, electronics area (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Robots, etc), metal/fab shop, crafts studio and much more. Free.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6: “Connect After 5,” 5-7 p.m., at Junior Achievement of Central Carolinas, 1701 N. Graham St., Suite 100. Join the Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce for its Connect After 5 event. This mixer is the perfect opportunity for professionals across various industries to come together, share insights and forge new business relationships. Whether you're a seasoned executive or a budding entrepreneur, you'll find value in the diverse interactions and potential collaborations that await. Free for members. $25 for non-members.

➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.

WSOC reporter Joe Bruno, posting on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, with a $17.99 “Greetings From Charlotte” coffee mug he found for sale at Charlotte’s airport that features a blue-and-green suspension bridge across a scenic downtown river: