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!  

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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. Park restrooms are open but restricted to one person at a time. Basketball courts are for individual play only. If a playground is crowded we encourage you to visit one of our other playgrounds. Non-contact activities, where players can maintain 6’ of social distancing, are allowed. 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 September 21) 

What's Happening


PARCplus Great news! We have expanded PARCplus through December 18, 2020! PARCplus is a mash-up combining a school day with a safe, full-day camp setting, including time for online learning plus art, exercise, homework, and more, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. for 1st-6th graders. And now, you may register by the week or by the day - choose just the days you need.  Read more and register now! 
Fall Fall into PARC: We invite you and your family to experience fun activities and ideas every day! From fall concerts, to outdoor movies, to exploring our beautiful park spaces or finding new recipes, there is something for everyone to enjoy. We've had a great November with Fall into PARC!   Enjoy a glance at our upcoming Celebrate with PARC calendar! Also, registration continues for the NEW Polar Bear Edition of Youth Flag Football and Santa Paws in the Park! All sessions of Light Up Cornelius are FULL.
Santa Join us Friday, December 4, on the Cornelius Town Hall lawn for Photos with Santa. Preschoolers, ages 5 and under, can join us for a fun morning getting in the spirit of the holidays! Take a socially distanced photo with Santa or in front of our 28’ Christmas tree, a take-home holiday craft, and of course, cookies!  Choose ONLY one (1) of two (2) sessions offered: 10-10:45 a.m. or 11:15 a.m.-12 p.m. Don’t forget your camera! This holiday event is free, but each person of ANY age attending must register in advance due to attendance restrictions. 
Flag Logo 2021 Youth Flag Football Polar Bear Edition registration is now open! League play will begin January 2021. Registration is open to boys and girls ages 6-17.  Fees are $100 for non-residents | $85 for Cornelius residents. Read more.
Try Tai Chi Tai Chi is back, outdoors on Thursday mornings under the Bailey Road Park band shell, with separate classes for beginner and intermediate students. The current session started the first week of November but it's not too late to join!
brushes
 Fall C Session: Registration is now open for limited number of adult arts ceramics programs.   
Open Track 2019-2020 Open Track Nights are back and expanded to three nights per week, 6-8 p.m. The James Hoyt Wilhelm Park 1/4-mi walking track will be lighted on Mondays and the Bailey Road Park regulation track will be lighted on Tuesdays and Thursdays, both open to the public for your enjoyment. Come and enjoy a safe place to walk or run, on your own or with family and friends.
Walk with a Doc Join Cornelius PARC and Novant Health’s Lakeside Family Physicians on Saturday, December 5, 9 a.m. at Antiquity Greenway for Walk with a Doc,  a walking program for everyone interested in taking steps for a healthier lifestyle. This is free to attend. However, space is limited and registration is required.
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!