by Will Bryant

CORNELIUS – The Cornelius Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture Department will celebrate the grand opening of the phase I of Robbins Park, 17738 W. Catawba Ave., Sept. 17, a Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m.

Formerly the old Robbins farmstead, the 107-acre property was bought by Mecklenburg County in 2001 with the hopes of constructing it into a park for the growing Lake Norman population.

In order to expedite the process of constructing the park, the town of Cornelius partnered with the nearby neighborhood, The Preserve at Robbins Park, in order to construct roads and set up utilities.

Phase I of Robbins Park features a multipurpose field, a custom nature-themed playground, two tennis courts, restrooms, picnic shelters and a trail system that weaves around the property and connects with the McDowell Creek Greenway.

The dedication ceremony for the park begins at 9:15 a.m. and will feature a speech by Cornelius Mayor Jeff Tarte.

The town will serve refreshments for all who attend, and the Community Arts Project and Earth Fare will sponsor children’s activities until 11 a.m.

For animal lovers, the Carolina Raptor Center will have a few friends on display, as well an exhibit featured by Davidson College’s Herpetology Lab.

And for those who show up early, a limited number of commemorative backpacks will be given out while supplies last.

For more information about the event, call the Cornelius PARC Department at 704-892-6031 ext. 160, or visit www.corneliuspr.org

Cornelius residents can also look forward to the grand opening of the Westmoreland Athletic Complex in coming months.

Phase I of the complex was completed last year and phase II is scheduled be to completed by this coming October, according to the PARC Department.

“We have not set a grand opening date as the project needs to get a little further along before we can,” PARC Director Troy Fitzsimmons said.

Depending on when the project is accepted by the town, the Westmoreland Athletic Complex could open in the fall or early in the spring of 2012, Fitzsimmons said.