Culture

A Great Place to Have Fun, Indoors or Out

Kids have fun on the playground at the new Lowe’s YMCA in Mooresville.

Mooresville residents know a good thing when they see it.

Economic growth‚ great schools and easy access to outdoor activities are just a few reasons why the community is getting so much favorable attention these days.

“It’s just a feel-good place‚” says Mooresville Mayor Bill Thunberg. “It’s a great place to live with good people and good weather. We’ve got great recreational opportunities in the area for folks.”

The city was nationally recognized in 2007 by Money magazine as one of the country’s best 100 towns to call home.

Chris Montgomery‚ general manager of the Lake Norman Times‚ notes that strong family ties are often found throughout the community. For example‚ his grandparents operated Mabry’s Washerette in downtown Mooresville for more than 45 years.

“I like the idea of working where I live and where my kids go to school and where we go to church‚” Montgomery says. “We’re fortunate that so much growth has come here‚ bringing business and opportunity.”

Donna Corriher‚ development director of the Lowe’s YMCA in Mooresville‚ says the community offers “a little bit of everything.”

“We’re two hours from the mountains; about four hours from the beach.”

Lovers of outdoor activities will appreciate the Mooresville weather: Average high temperatures are just 77 degrees in the summer‚ and annual snowfall registers a mere 3 inches.

Festivals and special events fill the local calendar. The YMCA sponsors a major fireworks show in July and Healthy Kids Day in April.

“We love that we have all this space where the Mooresville community can come together‚” Corriher says of the new Y on Joe V. Knox Avenue.

The Y’s staff works with area schools to offer educational and fun opportunities for students. The 57‚000-square-foot Lowe’s YMCA‚ part of the YMCA of Greater Charlotte system‚ features an indoor water park. Activities for adults‚ include fitness facilities‚ sports programs and clubs.

“We have wonderful programs‚ and they’re growing‚” she says.

Mayor Thunberg says the town also has started investing creatively in recreation.

“We’ve got a new park and a new skateboard park being designed‚” Thunberg says.

Finding a spot to enjoy outdoor family activities isn’t a problem. The Mooresville Recreation Department has nine parks on its roster. Amenities include seven tennis courts‚ eight outdoor basketball courts and six ball fields.

The Iredell County Parks and Recreation Department operates the 83-acre Stumpy Creek Park adjacent to Lake Norman. It has a playground‚ boat launch‚ walking track‚ three soccer fields‚ three baseball/softball fields and a disc golf course.

The county’s Outdoor Education Center near Mooresville features a ropes course‚ a 50-foot rappelling/climbing tower and primitive camping sites.

A wide variety of age and interest groups enjoy the ropes course‚ says Michelle Hepler‚ recreation programs administrator for Iredell County.

“It ranges anywhere from birthday parties to sports teams to town managers‚” she says.

Seniors have their own special interests‚ such as woodcarving and line dancing‚ offered every week at the South Iredell Senior Center. The center is located in downtown Mooresville on the first floor of the Charles Mack Citizen’s Center.

With spacious meeting rooms and outdoor courtyards‚ the citizen center also welcomes large groups.

Story by Cristal Cody
Photo by Ian Curcio

Site Sponsors

Archives

Local Advertisers

Site Sponsors

Contact Us

Local Advertisers

Culture

Additional Culture Articles