The 1930s and 40s were a heady time for the West Morehead corridor. Workers flocked to bustling new industrial complexes, drawn by jobs and a newly constructed streetcar line. Trains chugged along a line of Southern Railroad connecting Charlotte and Gastonia, where thriving textile firms spun across the landscape.

In the midst of it all was Bryant Park, one of the earliest small public parks to grace the area with green space. Complete with a softball field, volleyball and tennis courts, and horseshoe pits, Bryant Park served as a recreational center for residents in the nearby neighborhoods of Wesley Heights and Wilmore. With its elaborate network of stone walls and distinctive stone ball field seating, the park was most likely an accomplishment of the New Deal’s Works Progress Administration (WPA). Bryant Park is an inviting remnant of the past, perfectly positioned to enhance Charlotte’s future.