City of Kannapolis | City of Kannapolis > Government & Departments > Parks & Recreation

Parks & Recreation

Village Park Ampitheater with yellow daffodils

The Kannapolis Parks and Recreation Department strives to exceed citizens’ expectations by offering the highest quality park facilities, a wide variety of programming and excellence in our interactions with users.

Parks and Recreation maintains many parks including Bakers Creek Park, Veterans Park, Village Park, Walter M. Safrit Park, Kannapolis Middle School Athletic Fields, Dale Earnhardt Tribute Plaza, the Kannapolis Cemetery and several City owned properties. The Parks and Recreation Department also partners with the Kannapolis YMCA, the Cabarrus Arts Council, the Cabarrus County Library-Kannapolis Branch and other organizations to provide programs and events. 

The department has achieved new heights with the expansion efforts at Village Park. The Village Park Amphitheater, the largest in Cabarrus County, was the site of the first Summer Concert Series in 2004, and a successful Movie in the Park series was added in 2005. The award-winning Summer Entertainment Series continues to grow attracting over 50,000 people annually from Kannapolis and the surrounding Charlotte region. 

Reserve a shelter.

Shelter Reservations are now on-line.  Click here to make a shelter reservation.  Half-day reservations may be made on-line.  For help making an on-line reservation, click here. Full-day reservations should be made by calling 704-920-4343 or email parks@kannapolisnc.gov. The office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm to take reservations and payment for registrations over the phone and in person. 

Volunteer with us.

For a list of opportunities Click here or to complete the application Click here.

National Accreditation.

CAPRA Accrediation Logo

The City of Kannapolis Parks and Recreation Department has been granted accreditation for standards of excellence in quality and efficiency by the National Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). CAPRA acknowledges that Kannapolis Parks and Recreation has fulfilled requirements exemplifying its commitment to serving its patrons, employees, volunteers and communities.

The CAPRA national accreditation standards provide benchmarks for parks and recreational agencies that comply with the quality assurance and improvement process demonstrating their commitment to the people they service.

Accreditation requires our agency to comply with all 37 fundamental standards and at least 90% of the remaining 114 standards put forth by CAPRA. The accreditation process is a five-year cycle with three phases: the agency’s self-assessment report, the on-site visitation, and the CAPRA review and decision. When accreditation is granted, the agency develops a new self-assessment report, which is reviewed every five years. In the four years between on-site visits, the agency submits annual reports outlining its continued efforts to maintain compliance and accreditation.

CAPRA standards maintain a high level of excellence regarding an agency’s efficiency and effectiveness of their plans, policies, and procedures. Accreditation is a way for tax payers, policy makers, staff and the general public to know that their services are being met and delivered, according to CAPRA standards.