McGill Rose Garden (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Encyclopedia
McGill Rose Garden is a city supported park at 940 North Davidson Street in the NoDa neighborhood
of Charlotte, North Carolina
. It has been designated an All-America Rose Selections (AARS) public garden, one of only 4 such gardens in all of North Carolina and one of only 53 in the entire United States.
On May 10, 1976, with the help of a federal grant which enabled Charlotte to acquire "green space", at the recommendation of Councilman Harvey Gantt
, and with the approval by Mayor John M. Belk
, the City purchased the property from Henry McGill. In 1995, an independent Board of Directors was formed for the garden, being recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. In 1996, the McGill Board entered into a lease with the City of Charlotte to manage the Garden, and continues to do so.
Henry McGill worked every day in his beloved garden through age 99, and then at least weekly until his death in 2007 at the age of 103. It is the only park in Charlotte owned and managed by the city—all other parks in Charlotte are under the juresdiction of Mecklenburg County
. It is partly supported by a grant from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Arts and Sciences Council (ACS)
Today the park covers one and a third acres of meandering paths, fountains, benches, sculptures by Charlotte artist Tom Risser, and over a thousand rose bushes in over two hundred varieties, as well as many annuals, perennials, and herbs. In an echo of the past, a full sized coal car sits discretely in one shady corner of the garden, partly hidden by foliage, on a surviving piece of railroad track. The park is open to the public most days of the year and charges no admission.
NoDa (neighborhood)
NoDa is a popular arts district in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It is located in the North Charlotte neighborhood on and around North Davidson Street and 36th Street, approximately one mile northeast of Uptown. Formerly an area of textile manufacturing and mill workers' residences, the area has...
of Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. It has been designated an All-America Rose Selections (AARS) public garden, one of only 4 such gardens in all of North Carolina and one of only 53 in the entire United States.
History of the garden
The plot of land on which the garden sits was once a coal and ice yard. It was bought in 1950 by Henry McGill, one of the leading philanthropists in Charlotte. His wife Helen began planting roses to soften the grim heritage of the coal yard and, little by little, she transformed the former industrial site into a beautiful garden. Starting in 1967 the garden was opened to the public on every Mother’s Day. Eventually there were so many roses that Helen became known as the rose lady. When she died in 1985, her husband Henry took over the development and maintenance of the garden in her memory.On May 10, 1976, with the help of a federal grant which enabled Charlotte to acquire "green space", at the recommendation of Councilman Harvey Gantt
Harvey Gantt
Harvey Bernard Gantt is an American architect and Democratic politician active in North Carolina. He was Mayor of Charlotte from 1983 to 1987, and ran twice for the United States Senate....
, and with the approval by Mayor John M. Belk
John M. Belk
John Montgomery Belk was head of the Belk, Inc. department store chain and mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina for four terms . He was the son of William Henry Belk, who founded the first Belk store in Monroe, N.C., in 1888.A Democrat, he was the longest-serving mayor of the city of Charlotte until...
, the City purchased the property from Henry McGill. In 1995, an independent Board of Directors was formed for the garden, being recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. In 1996, the McGill Board entered into a lease with the City of Charlotte to manage the Garden, and continues to do so.
Henry McGill worked every day in his beloved garden through age 99, and then at least weekly until his death in 2007 at the age of 103. It is the only park in Charlotte owned and managed by the city—all other parks in Charlotte are under the juresdiction of Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County is the name of two counties in the United States:* Mecklenburg County, North Carolina* Mecklenburg County, Virginia...
. It is partly supported by a grant from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Arts and Sciences Council (ACS)
Today the park covers one and a third acres of meandering paths, fountains, benches, sculptures by Charlotte artist Tom Risser, and over a thousand rose bushes in over two hundred varieties, as well as many annuals, perennials, and herbs. In an echo of the past, a full sized coal car sits discretely in one shady corner of the garden, partly hidden by foliage, on a surviving piece of railroad track. The park is open to the public most days of the year and charges no admission.