Parks, Arts, Recreation & Culture

Overview

 
The Cornelius Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture (PARC) Department works to enhance the lives of citizens and visitors by providing great parks, natural areas and recreational experiences, from sports leagues and fitness classes to summer camps and art classes. Don't see what you like? Make a suggestion!  

Keep up:

  View current and archived editions of our monthly e-newsletter.

What's Happening


PARCplus With CMS remote learning on Wednesdays only, PARCplus will also be offered on Wednesdays only through May 5. There are limited spaces still available. To register and for more information...  
SummerCamps2021 Registration is open for over 100 summer camps and most are sold out!  For nine weeks this summer, we are offering an awesome variety of half-day sports, arts and recreation camps. Read more and register or join a waitlist today! 
now-hiring-YELLOW.jpg We are seeking talented, energetic people for the following positions: part-time park maintenance, and part-time/seasonal summer camp staff! Read the full job descriptions and application information - join us!
 EarthJam2021 Register NOW for Earth Jam 2021, Saturday, April 24, 5-7 p.m. at Robbins Park. Enjoy a free bluegrass concert by Carolina Divide. Concessions will be available for purchase. Registration is required regardless of age and is now open! Masks are required for this event. 
Disc Golf NEW! Junior Disc Golf League at the Bailey Road Park disc golf course on Thursdays beginning April 29. Two divisions: Introductory and Intermediate. Registration is open NOW! For ages 7-15. To learn more and to register... 
JazzFest  Registration is open to Cornelius residents NOW for the Cornelius Jazz Festival on Saturday, May 22, 5-8 p.m. at Smithville Park. Enjoy a free jazz concert by Dante Lewis and Eli Yacinthe. Concessions will be available for purchase. Registration is required regardless of age and is now open! Masks are required for this event. Registration opens to non-residents on Friday, April 23. 
MFC Logo The three north Mecklenburg towns - Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville, along with Mooresville, are hosting the first Mayors' Fitness Challenge! Residents of each town will combine to become one team to win the title of Fittest Community. The challenge will last February 1-April 18. Each week, participants will work to have the highest total of active minutes. It's the final week! The link to record your active minutes for April 12-18 is open now through Tuesday, April 20, at noon.  Come on Cornelius, let's win this thing!! 
brushes
The Spring B session at the Cornelius Arts Center is underway, with ceramics and watercolor classes for adults, and a mixed media class for teens.
Fitness group View our list of Arts, Athletics, Fitness Classes & Recreation programs. Register now for the next sessions of our popular fitness classes. We also offer drop-in classes on Mondays and Saturdays!
Gift Certificate Looking for a unique gift for friends or family? A gift certificate from PARC is always the right size! Gift certificates can be used for classes or merchandise at the Cornelius Arts Center, full-day and partial-day summer camps, fitness classes & more. 
Facility Image We offer a variety of Parks, Recreation & Arts Centers, and Trails & Greenways for your enjoyment. Read more about renting a shelter, field or court. 
The 5th Annual Beyond Walls Public Art Exhibition is open at Robbins Park. This award-winning exhibit will be on display through January 31, 2020, and features 7 sculptures by 6 artists. Join us on Saturday, June 1, at 3:30 p.m. for and Artist Tour! The public is invited to cast a vote for their favorite sculpture through June 30, 2019 for the "People's Choice Award".  Enjoy!
The 5th Annual Beyond Walls Public Art Exhibition is open at Robbins Park. This award-winning exhibit will be on display through January 31, 2020, and features 7 sculptures by 6 artists. Join us on Saturday, June 1, at 3:30 p.m. for and Artist Tour! The public is invited to cast a vote for their favorite sculpture through June 30, 2019 for the "People's Choice Award".  Enjoy!
Registration for the Spring A session of adult art education classes is now open! We are happy to announce the return of watercolor classes at CAC, including the return of both adult beginner and intermediate-to-advanced painting! The 6-week-long sessions will begin the week of February 22.
Registration for the 
Registration for the 
Register NOW for Earth Jam 2021, Saturday, April 24, 5-7 p.m. at Robbins Park. Enjoy a free bluegrass concert by Carolina Divide. Concessions will be available for purchase. Registration is required regardless of age and is now open! Masks are required for this event.
Welcome Back!

As we welcome you back into our facilities & programs, we want you to know what we are doing to keep you safe.

We are: Following state & local guidelines | Limiting program sizes | Doing extra cleaning | Setting up to allow for social distancing | Offering hand sanitizer and/or handwashing in all facilities | Using a registration system for select programs

You can help by: Staying home if you are sick | Following signage | Washing your hands | Wearing a mask while indoors or when social distancing cannot be maintained | Registering for programs online @ cornelius.org/parc or over the phone @ 704-892-6031 x160

PARC Facilities

The safety and well-being of everyone who visits our PARC facilities are always our primary concerns. All Cornelius parks, greenways, and playgrounds are open; in accordance with the governor’s orders, all who visit must practice social distancing (6 feet apart) or wear a mask when social distancing cannot be maintained (see Executive Order 181). If a playground is crowded we encourage you to visit one of our other playgrounds. For tennis and pickleball play, refer to this USTA safety tip sheet for guidelines. For all other sports, refer to this NCDHHS guidance for sports (updated 1/28/21)