Updated Feb. 7, 1:00 p.m.

By CHRISTINA RITCHIE ROGERS
CorneliusNews.net

Following a unanimous Town Board vote, Cornelius is the first town in Mecklenburg County to ban smoking and the use of other tobacco products in its parks and park buildings. Board members at their regular meeting Monday night voted in favor of a tobacco-free ordinance recommended by the Cornelius Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture (PARC) Board.

At their last meeting, PARC commissioners unanimously recommended approval of an ordinance banning smoking and tobacco use in town parks and park buildings, saying it would eliminate exposure to second-hand smoke, reduce littering of toxic cigarette butts, and reduce tobacco use by adolescents. Read the full story

This year’s Special Needs Baseball program, offered by the Cornelius Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture Department and Huntersville Parks and Recreation, concluded Nov. 5 with a big game.

On the final day of practice, W.A. Hough High Coach Jimmy Cochran brought a dozen of his baseball players to scrimmage the special needs team. Read the full story

More than 100 people attended the opening reception for Jack Conard’s photography exhibit, “The History of Cornelius: The Conard Collection,” at the Cornelius Arts Center Thursday evening. Mr. Conard’s is the largest known collection of Cornelius photographs, spanning decades of the town’s history and showing the evolution of the area.

“My goal has always been to record as much history of our town as possible for future generations,” Mr. Conard said at the opening. “I have promised all the ‘old-timers’ that they would never be forgotten, and with the help of the town, I feel this exhibit makes that goal much more possible.” Read the full story

By CHRISTINA RITCHIE ROGERS
CorneliusNews.net

The Cornelius Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture Department is planning a new greenway that would connect neighborhoods between Ecopark, at Hwy. 21 across from the Home Depot, and Bailey Road Park. The town requested funding for the project a few years ago as part of its efforts develop a master bicycle and pedestrian plan, PARC Director Troy Fitzsimmons said, and the N.C. Department of Transportation now has made those funds available to the town.

NCDOT has allocated $2.15 million for the project through the Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation’s transportation improvement program, and the town will be responsible for any additional costs or design, permitting and acquisition, Mr. Fitzsimmons said. Read the full story

More than 600 people turned out with their four-legged friends for the 11th annual All American Dog Show at Bailey Road Park Saturday. Eighty dogs competed in different categories, including “cutest senior,” “best dressed” and “most ear-resistible ears.”

Hosted by the Cornelius PARC Department and sponsored by the North Mecklenburg Animal Hospital and MI-Connection, the event offered fun for all ages – and breeds – and also raised money for animal rescue. Read more and see all the winners, in PETS>>

The Cornelius Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture Department this week put the finishing touches on the playground at Robbins Park and plans a dedication ceremony and grand opening party Saturday to celebrate the completion of Phase I construction.

The first building phase of the park features a multipurpose field, an informal play meadow, two tennis courts, restrooms, a picnic shelter, picnic sites and the custom nature-themed playground. Also it includes a trail system that weaves through the park and connects to the adjoining nature preserve and ties in to The McDowell Creek Greenway. Read the full story

The Community Arts Project (CAP) offers a free drop-in art day Sept. 10 at the Cornelius Arts Center from 10 a.m. to noon.

CAP will have multiple art stations featuring projects from its upcoming fall art classes, and community members are invited to drop in and try them for free. The projects are appropriate for children ages 18 months to 12 years. Read the full story

By CHRISTINA RITCHIE ROGERS
CorneliusNews.net

When local athletes return to Smithville Park in August, they will be pleasantly surprised with newly renovated athletic fields.

The Cornelius Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture Department since June has been renovating all of the park fields. There is new top dressing and Bermuda grass on all of the athletic fields, and PARC maintenance crews now are working on renovating the infields, PARC Director Troy Fitzsimmons said. Read the full story