By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
KANNAPOLIS ó Come December, the Kannapolis Christmas parade could begin with an opening pitch.
The Kannapolis Initimidators baseball organization will organize, promote and sponsor the popular annual parade, City Council agreed Monday. Council has not decided whether to hold the parade during the day or at night.
Smith Family Baseball, which owns the minor league Intimidators, offered to take over the parade and not charge the city a dime, City Manager Mike Legg said.
“It’s their way of giving back to the community,” Legg said.
Smith Family Baseball has experience organizing large events, as well as free time in the winter months, Assistant City Manager Eddie Smith said.
“This is a way for them to get their name in front of everyone during the off season,” Smith said.
Team Vice President Tim Mueller said they won’t change anything about the parade, Smith said.
The city will sign a contract with the organization.
In the past, the city has given the Cabarrus Events Association $10,000 to put on the Christmas parade and a spring festival.
But the future of the group is uncertain, Legg said.
In other business, the council chose the most critical planning projects.
The following areas are their top priority for master plans to guide future development:
– Center City area, bounded by Loop Road and including the N.C. Research Campus.
– N.C. Highway 3 corridor, considered a prime area for economic development after it becomes four lanes.
– Dale Earnhardt Boulevard corridor, ready for redevelopment.
– Kannapolis Parkway, one of the fastest growing areas of the city.
– Mill Village, which could receive an overlay district to protect the character of the single-family neighborhood.
“My fear is that the NCRC gets humming and some developer buys up the lots and tears down the houses to build apartments,” council member Roger Haas said.