Laurels to plucky individuals who follow their dreams — especially when they lead to projects as worthwhile as a playground with slides, swings and other features specifically designed for handicapped children, right here in Rowan County.
Thanks to the groundwork of Lisa Black, donations from local foundations and the Rowan County Parks and Recreation Department, the special playground will soon be under way at Dan Nicholas Park.
Black, who has a handicapped child, saw the great need for this facility — parents with handicapped kids now drive all the way to Shelby to enjoy a specially designed play area. Just think — besides bringing a lot of smiles to a lot of kids and their families, it’ll also help conserve energy.
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Dart to the building contractor and insurance company that may leave Kannapolis officials taking a $220,000 hit in city funds. First, Hepler Building Co. of Statesville abandoned work on the public works operations center on Bethpage Road, little more than halfway through the project. Then the builder’s insurance company was found to be insolvent. Maybe the blow was mitigated, slightly at least, with the news that they’re going to get $192,000 in back taxes from Pillowtex, although that still leaves the company about $503,000 in arrears.
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Laurels to Salisbury planners for taking a serious look at extending a bikeway system through the city. With its picturesque streets, parks and tree-shaded lanes, Salisbury is ideal for biking — well, except in the middle of the day in the summer. Whether you’re a casual cycler, a pedaling commuter or a Spandex-clad racer, the expansion of bikeways would make cycling a safer and much more enjoyable way to get around in the city. (And while we’re on the subject of biking, another laurel to the state Legislature for finally passing a bicycle helmet law for children under age 16. Sign it, governor.)
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Dart to the notion that bigger is always better, especially when it comes to our expanding cities. Speaking of which, Charlotte is well on its way to becoming the new poster child for sprawl.
As of today, the Queen City will take another king-sized chunk out of Mecklenburg County, annexing 10,700 acres and 22,300 people into the city’s environs. That will give the city a total population of 563,128 and make it the nation’s 25th largest city, surpassing Denver, now at 26th.
Considering the speed of Charlotte’s growth — annexing 60 square miles since 1990 — it’s no wonder Concord has been busy annexing areas. It’s eat or be eaten. It makes Salisbury’s annexation efforts seem downright restrained by comparison, although the folks out west on N.C. 150 probably won’t agree.
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