"We have been using the 12 to 15 parking spaces beside town hall for Food Truck Fridays, our annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, etc for years and, now, we simply have outgrown the small parking lot." That's how Mayor Jim Bell explained to The Enquirer-Journal why Weddington is looking at a park next to Town Hall.
Most of the talk since then has centered on one number. The Enquirer-Journal reported an estimated $10 million for the project, and a resident petition against it passed 500 signatures.
The town's own schedule puts things in a different order. A final concept goes to Council in December. Only after that does the town plan to get an engineer's cost estimate, and then Council decides whether to go ahead, cut the scope, or build in phases. So the professional price will be calculated from whatever design comes out of this fall. The two public sessions on October 17 and October 19 are where that design gets shaped.
What the Concept Puts on 3.3 Acres
The town describes the project as improvements to the "community open space adjacent to Town Hall." It calls the goal a central gathering place, Weddington's "living room," for residents, families, and visitors year-round.
The Enquirer-Journal reviewed a planning document while reporting on the petition. It describes a 3.3-acre lot next to Town Hall with these features:
- An amphitheater
- A building with public restrooms and a meeting room
- A fenced perimeter and a park trail
- Lighting and security cameras
- A pavilion and a playground area
- Parking
- A pollinator garden
- Sites set aside for two future town buildings
The last item matters more than it seems. At the July 13 Council meeting, Councilmember Darcey Ladner asked about the long-term condition of the current Town Hall and whether future office needs should be part of park planning. Mayor Pro Tem Tom Smith said the current concept plans leave "ample open space for any future facility needs." That means the lot is being planned for future town buildings as well as for park features. That's one reason a single headline number doesn't tell you much about which parts are really up for discussion.
Two Figures That Measure Different Things
Garrett Maust, a resident who signed the petition, compared the reported cost to the town budget. "The proposed park is three times our annual budget. We have a $3 million annual budget and $10 million is three times that," he told The Enquirer-Journal. He also argued that grant money would not come close to covering construction or ongoing upkeep.
The Mayor and Council answered with a written clarification dated September 22, 2026 on the town homepage. It lists the money the town says it could put together:
| Source | Approximate amount | What it can be used for |
|---|---|---|
| ARPA / SLFRF reimbursement proceeds | about $1.6 million | Any lawful town purpose, not subject to expiration |
| NC State Capital and Infrastructure Fund, or SCIF | about $665,000 remaining | Infrastructure |
| NC Office of State Budget and Management park grant | about $270,000 remaining | Park purposes |
| Additional grant, notified but not yet received | $100,000 | Park improvements |
| Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, or PARTF, if the town applies and is awarded | up to $500,000 in matching funds | Park purposes, with part of the ARPA money possibly covering the local match |
| Total the town says it could potentially assemble | about $3.2 million | Mostly limited to park or infrastructure projects |
The ARPA line has caused the most confusion. The clarification says the town was awarded $1,663,187.50 and has already met the federal spending requirements by reimbursing itself for law enforcement, administration, and development costs it paid between July 2021 and December 2024. Those reimbursed funds now sit in town accounts and don't expire at the end of 2026.
So neither figure is a final number. The $10 million is a reported early estimate for the full concept. The $3.2 million is what the town says it could raise, and most of it can only go to parks or infrastructure. The council letter says the town's goal is to "identify additional funds that could be used without burdening the town financially," should residents want to pursue those options. The engineer's estimate that would show how far apart the two numbers are hasn't been ordered yet, because the design it would price isn't finished.
The Order the Town Has Laid Out
The schedule is the clearest way to see where public input has the most effect. The town has described it in Council minutes, its news posts, and the Mayor's comments to The Enquirer-Journal.
- July 13, 2026. Council voted 2–1 to approve the LaBella agreement without Phase 1, the public engagement survey, and to move straight to Phase 2 with a design worked out by Council. Councilmember Ellen McLaughlin voted no. The Enquirer-Journal reported this as a $20,000 contract with LaBella & Associates for next steps.
- September 19. A four-hour open house at Weddington Middle School collected ideas and priorities.
- October 17 and 19. LaBella reports back on the feedback, and the town holds its second public engagement meeting.
- November. LaBella presents an updated concept plan to Council, and Council gives direction.
- December. If things stay on schedule, a final plan goes to Council.
- After the final concept. The town gets an engineer's cost estimate, and Council decides whether to proceed, change the scope, or build in two or more phases.
Bell told The Enquirer-Journal that the town has not decided anything on the park. Under this schedule, each comment about adding or dropping an amphitheater, a meeting building, or a playground changes what the engineer will eventually price. The phasing option in step six also means the first thing built could be smaller than the full concept.
Why the 2018 Survey Keeps Coming Up
The process debate centers on one older document. At the July meeting, McLaughlin said she supported doing community market research before committing to Phase 2. She noted that the town's 2018 community survey "did not ask residents about specific park amenities or priorities."
Smith made the case for moving ahead. He said two earlier community meetings on the park "were not well-attended," that more surveys could become a way to delay action indefinitely, and that a park is "a basic municipal function that Weddington has gone without for decades."
The September 19 session showed both concerns. Elizabeth Holty, a resident who attended, told The Enquirer-Journal it was "contentious from the start." She said many residents questioned the budget and the reliance on the 2018 survey, and that people who stayed until the end were mostly those who want a park. Bell said that after hearing those concerns, "we spent time collecting input on what residents would like to see in a town park and meeting space." Bell also said others in town agree there needs to be a "small place to gather and to connect with other residents."
The July vote skipped the survey. That leaves the October sessions and written comments as the main public record of what residents want included, scaled back, or left out before the November concept.
Where to Weigh In This Month
The town has posted these dates. Confirm them on the Town of Weddington website before you go.
- Monday, October 12, 7–9 p.m. Regular Town Council meeting at Town Hall. No October agenda was posted as of October 2.
- Saturday, October 17, 1–3 p.m. At Town Hall, LaBella reports on the feedback it collected and asks for help refining the process.
- Monday, October 19, 6–8 p.m. The second public engagement meeting at Town Hall, 1924 Weddington Rd., also streamed live on the town's YouTube channel. The agenda covers updates since the first session, community priorities, design concepts, and possible next steps.
- Anytime. Email comments to [email protected], or print the town's "My Park Story Sheet" and email it in. The town says every comment, in person or online, will be reviewed as part of planning.
For now, the town's own events still use the space by Town Hall. The 2026 Christmas tree lighting, one of the events Bell mentioned, doesn't have a date yet. The October 5 Parks and Events Board agenda lists it only under assignment updates. Down Providence Road, The Hunter Farm's fall season runs through November 1. Its Friday evenings, 4 to 8 p.m., have live music and food trucks, with Chip McGee playing October 9 and Cameron Moore on October 23.
At Jeremy Ordan, we follow the town decisions that shape everyday life in Weddington, from this park concept to the December plan and the cost estimate that follows. If you have questions about how decisions like this fit into your own plans in Weddington, we're glad to talk them through with you.
