Community News

Article reposted from The Independent Tribune by Christopher Miller

After more than a year of being closed, James L. Dorton Park officially re(opened) for business Tuesday. The park, which closed in September 2023, underwent numerous renovations as part of the $60 million bond that voters approved in November 2022. These include an updated restroom featuring an inclusive changing table that is capable of holding several hundred pounds; parking lot expansion, for a total of 180 spaces; two new pedestrian bridges; a new playground; multi-purpose field improvements; disc golf expansion, from nine holes to 18 holes; stream restoration; and resurfacing the three tennis courts, including adding pickleball lines.

A ribbon-cutting was held Tuesday afternoon to celebrate Dorton's reopening. The bond, which was the first Parks and Recreation General Obligation (GO) Bond for the city in nearly 40 years, includes funding for nine total park projects — four new ones and renovations to five existing parks. Dorton is the first park to be completed.

"It's a special moment for our community as we unveil the incredible renovations that will bring new life, new energy and new memories to this park and this community," said Parks and Recreation deputy director Jay Tryon, noting the 24-acre park, which first opened in 2001, has always been a place "where families gather, children play and our neighbors can connect." With all the of park's many amenities, "there's truly something for everyone of all ages," Tryon added.

The park was named after James Dorton, who served 26 years as a City Alderman (city council) and on many community boards and retired from Cannon Mills. He died in 2003. Dorton’s wife, Margaret, and his daughter, Louise, attended the reopening ceremony.

'This affects all of us'

Dorton will be the first park in Cabarrus County to have an inclusive changing table. The nonprofit Willow’s Wish Foundation suppled and installed the table, which cost $10,000. There are just a handful of inclusive changing tables across North Carolina, said Mark Dail, who started the nonprofit in 2023 after his daughter, Willow, was born with a rare Trisomy condition known as Trisomy 12P, which affected her physically and mentally.

The table, which can be raised up or lowered down and includes safety rails, has the capability to hold around 500 pounds, Dail said.

"This is milestone for the City of Concord and Cabarrus County," Dail said. Inclusive changing tables will also be featured at other parks that will be renovated, including Marvin Caldwell Park and Hartsell Park.

"This doesn't affect just Willow or just me," Dail added, "this affects all of us. The concept and the idea is to bring everyone together."

Having an inclusive environment ensures that more people will feel comfortable enough to want to come to the park.

"This changes lives, trust me," Dail said.

Pickleball lines have been added to the tennis courts at Dorton Park (photo by Chris Miller). 

As part of its renovations, Dorton Park added two new pedestrian bridges (photo by Chris Miller).

The multi-purpose field at Dorton Park received some needed improvements (photo by Chris Miller). 

The inclusive changing table is the first in Cabarrus County and one of the first in the state (photo by Chris Miller)