Embedded Files
The Reid Park neighborhood, first formed in the 1930s, was one of Charlotte's first exclusively African American neighborhoods. Located along West Boulevard, it is five minutes away from the airport and only a couple miles from uptown Charlotte. Throughout its history, it has suffered from poor infrastructure, illegal dumping, and pollution. Since the 1980s, residents and local activists have undertaken a passionate, and successful, campaign to improve their neighborhood.
The Reid Park neighborhood, first formed in the 1930s, was one of Charlotte's first exclusively African American neighborhoods. Located along West Boulevard, it is five minutes away from the airport and only a couple miles from uptown Charlotte. Throughout its history, it has suffered from poor infrastructure, illegal dumping, and pollution. Since the 1980s, residents and local activists have undertaken a passionate, and successful, campaign to improve their neighborhood.
The purpose of this project is not only to identify recurrent environmental issues within Reid Park but also to highlight the perseverance of its residents in fighting for better infrastructure and access to clean green space.
The purpose of this project is not only to identify recurrent environmental issues within Reid Park but also to highlight the perseverance of its residents in fighting for better infrastructure and access to clean green space.
"It's in that particular spirit ... the spirit of Amay James, in the spirit of Ross Reid, and those who settled here that we continue to strive and work hard to renew, revitalize, and maintain that sense of place within Reid Park and within the West Boulevard corridor."
"It's in that particular spirit ... the spirit of Amay James, in the spirit of Ross Reid, and those who settled here that we continue to strive and work hard to renew, revitalize, and maintain that sense of place within Reid Park and within the West Boulevard corridor."
-Rickey Hall,
-Rickey Hall,
long-time Reid Park resident and Board Chair of the West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition
long-time Reid Park resident and Board Chair of the West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition
Explore the history of the Reid Park neighborhood through an interactive timeline.
A quick look at the pollution problem plaguing Irwin Creek within the Reid Park area.
Want to learn more?
Want to learn more?
Click here to go to the website for Keeping Watch, a UNC Charlotte-affiliated program focused on collaborative environmental research. Here, you can learn more about Charlotte's creek systems, as well as other topics based in Charlotte such as plastic waste and recycling, air quality and tree canopy, and wildlife habitats.
Want to do your own research on Reid Park or Irwin Creek? Click here to access a usage guide for archival materials and photographs, as well as a full bibliography for this project.
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