Two years ago Mecklenburg County bought 552 acres of parkland for about $48 million. Last fiscal year it bought 234 acres for about $38 million — which means the price per acre nearly doubled while commissioners cut the land acquisition fund by $20 million. Those two things compound. Meanwhile the county sits at just under 19 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents against a target of 23, and falling, because Charlotte adds people faster than it adds parks. In the spring of 2024 the same commissioner now flagging the cut was saying "we've been able to ramp this up." Plus: council votes tomorrow on extending the data center moratorium nine months, with air pollution monitoring and noise limits still unresolved four months in — and the Panthers open at home this afternoon.

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Sources this episode: WFAE, The Charlotte Ledger

CLT Daily is written, hosted and produced by Steve Bouboulis, an independent journalist covering the Queen City. Got a tip, a document, or a story the city isn't telling? Reach him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevebouboulis/

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