Jamie has been asking to "go park!" approximately nine thousand times a day lately, so when I heard that Teddy's mom Ashley just had a baby, I figured she could probably use an excuse to get out of the house. I texted her about meeting up at Independence Park and she said yes immediately. I used to live five minutes from this park, drove past it at least twice a day, and somehow never once pulled in. I regret that now.
Getting There
Independence Park sits at 300 Hawthorne Lane, right at the edge of the Elizabeth neighborhood where it bumps up against Plaza Midwood. It's open daily from 7am to 7pm. Parking is a mix of street spots along Hawthorne and a surface lot near Elizabeth Traditional Elementary School, plus a reconfigured lot in the upper section of the park. We got there around 10am on a weekday and had no trouble finding a spot, but I'd imagine weekend mornings get tighter.
The Backstory
This is Charlotte's oldest public park, dating back to 1904, and it just went through a nearly $6 million renovation that wrapped up in 2023 after being closed for two years. Hawthorne Lane splits the park into two halves that both sit below street level, which gives the whole place a tucked away, quiet feeling even though you're minutes from Uptown. The upper section has a nature playground, a formal perennial garden, and several athletic fields. The lower section has the reflecting pool, a rose garden, walking trails, and the 300 seat Independence Park Stadium. There's also a mural called "Natural Rhythms" by Charlotte artist Georgie Nakima on the old Armory Building that faces the park, which is worth walking over to see even if you're just there for the playground.
What's There
The playground itself is newer, colorful, and has a good mix of climbing structures and slides for a range of ages, plus swings. There are picnic tables and shade trees scattered around, walking paths that wind through both halves of the park, and permanent restrooms now, which honestly feels like a small miracle at a Charlotte park. You'll also find tennis and basketball courts, a volleyball court, and the athletic fields if your family is into that kind of thing on top of playground time.
Our Experience
This was my first time at Independence Park and Jamie's first real playdate with a friend from daycare, so it was a big morning on two fronts, on top of it being Ashley's first outing since having her baby. She and Teddy met us there around 10am and the boys took about four seconds to warm up before they were off running the paths together, taking turns on the slide more times than I could count, and chasing each other in circles around the playground equipment. At one point they found a puddle from recent rain and that became the main event for a solid ten minutes. Nobody was mad about it except me, slightly, when I realized neither kid had a change of clothes.
There were a good number of other families out that morning too, so it never felt empty or isolated, which I appreciated as a first time visitor. I will say honestly that we noticed a few people sleeping on benches when we arrived. Ashley mentioned she usually comes in the afternoon and had never really registered it before. Nobody approached us or bothered us in any way, and by the time we left an hour later the park had filled in with more families and joggers. I'm mentioning it not to alarm anyone, just because I'd want to know before I showed up, especially if you're planning an early morning visit.
The Details
Address: 300 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC 28204
Hours: 7am to 7pm daily
Cost: Free
Parking: Street parking on Hawthorne Lane, a lot near Elizabeth Traditional Elementary, and a lot in the upper park
Best for: Toddlers through elementary age, though the walking trails and athletic fields make it work for older kids and adults too
Restrooms: Yes, permanent facilities added in the 2023 renovation
